1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566676869707172737475767778798081828384858687888990

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
10.80.310.80.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.80.4

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Parīkṣitsince 10.80.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

शिरस्तु तस्योभयलिङ्गमान-

मेत्तदेव यत् पश्यति तद्धि चक्षु: ।

अङ्गानि विष्णोरथ तज्जनानां

पादोदकं यानि भजन्ति नित्यम् ॥ ४ ॥

śiras tu tasyobhaya-liṅgam ānamet

tad eva yat paśyati tad dhi cakṣuḥ

aṅgāni viṣṇor atha taj-janānāṁ

pādodakaṁ yāni bhajanti nityam

Translation

An actual head is one that bows down to the Lord in His manifestations among the moving and nonmoving creatures, real eyes are those that see only the Lord, and actual limbs are those which regularly honor the water that has bathed the Lord’s feet or those of His devotees.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Honor the Lord With Your Whole Body

  1. 1

    An actual head bows down to the Lord in His manifestations among moving and nonmoving creatures.

  2. 2

    Real eyes are those that see only the Lord.

  3. 3

    Actual limbs regularly honor the water that has bathed the feet of the Lord or His devotees.

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. śiraḥhead
  2. tuand
  3. tasyaof Him
  4. ubhayaboth
  5. liṅgamto the manifestations
  6. ānametbows down
  7. tatthat
  8. evaonly
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.80

    In this verse: “devotees”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I use my body to express reverence for the Lord?

Practice

Bow your head to the Lord today with deliberate attention and respect.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor the Lord With Your Whole BodyThis 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 10.80.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories