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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 80: The Brāhmaṇa Sudāmā Visits Lord Kṛṣṇa in Dvārakā
10.80.3710.80.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.80.38

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Lordsince 10.80.28inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

वयं भृशं तत्र महानिलाम्बुभि-

र्निहन्यमाना महुरम्बुसम्प्लवे ।

दिशोऽविदन्तोऽथ परस्परं वने

गृहीतहस्ता: परिबभ्रिमातुरा: ॥ ३८ ॥

vayaṁ bhṛśam tatra mahānilāmbubhir

nihanyamānā mahur ambu-samplave

diśo ’vidanto ’tha parasparaṁ vane

gṛhīta-hastāḥ paribabhrimāturāḥ

Translation

Constantly besieged by the powerful wind and rain, we lost our way amidst the flooding waters. We simply held each other’s hands and, in great distress, wandered aimlessly about the forest.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Continuing Service Amid Distress

  1. 1

    Powerful wind and rain repeatedly struck Kṛṣṇa and Sudāmā, and they lost their way in the flooding.

  2. 2

    They held each other’s hands and wandered about the forest in great distress.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that the verb can also indicate carrying. In this reading, the boys continued carrying the firewood gathered for their spiritual master.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī points out that the verb paribabhrima may be understood to be the prefix pari with either the verb bhṛ or bhram.
  • In the case of bhram, it indicates that Kṛṣṇa and Sudāmā wandered all about, and in the case of bhṛ, which means “to carry,” it indicates that as the two young boys wandered about, they continued to carry the firewood they had secured for their spiritual master.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Humility and separation → Friendship and reunion. The sweetness of relationship outweighs prestige.

Chapters 80–86 of Canto 10: Sudāmā and reunion with the residents of Vraja. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 80: The Brāhmaṇa Sudāmā Visits Lord Kṛṣṇa in Dvārakā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Then He sat Sudāmā down on the bed, washed his feet with His own hands and sprinkled the wash water on His head. After this He presented him with various gifts and worshiped him with incense, lamps and so on.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.80
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vayamwe
  2. bhṛśamthoroughly
  3. tatrathere
  4. mahāgreat
  5. anilaby the wind
  6. ambubhiḥand water
  7. nihanyamānāḥbeset
  8. muhuḥcontinuously
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.80

    In this verse: “distress”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What can you learn from their continuing to carry the firewood despite difficulty?

Practice

Complete one small act of service today even if a minor inconvenience arises.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayContinuing Service Amid DistressThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 10.80.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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