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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
10.80.4010.80.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.80.41

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sāndīpanisince 10.80.40inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एतदेव हि सच्छिष्यै: कर्तव्यं गुरुनिष्कृतम् ।

यद् वै विशुद्धभावेन सर्वार्थात्मार्पणं गुरौ ॥ ४१ ॥

etad eva hi sac-chiṣyaiḥ

kartavyaṁ guru-niṣkṛtam

yad vai viśuddha-bhāvena

sarvārthātmārpaṇaṁ gurau

Translation

This indeed is the duty of all true disciples: to repay the debt to their spiritual master by offering him, with pure hearts, their wealth and even their very lives.

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.

Offering Everything With a Pure Heart

  1. 1

    True disciples repay their debt to the spiritual master by offering their wealth and very lives with pure hearts.

  2. 2

    The body supports the material conception of “I,” and fortune supports the conception of “mine.” By offering everything, one realizes oneself to be an eternal servant of the Lord.

  3. 3

    The spiritual master does not exploit the disciple. He engages the disciple fully in Kṛṣṇa consciousness for the disciple’s eternal benefit.

Key points from the purport
  • One engages one’s body to realize one’s purposes.
  • Thus by offering everything to the spiritual master, one realizes one’s self to be an eternal servant of the Lord.
  • The spiritual master does not exploit the disciple but rather engages him fully in Kṛṣṇa consciousness for the disciple’s eternal benefit.

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:

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa then took the hand of His friend, and the two of them reminisced about the things they had done together long ago, while living in the school of their spiritual master. Sudāmā pointed out that Kṛṣṇa engages in the pastime of acquiring an education only to set an example for human society.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.80
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etatthis
  2. evaalone
  3. hicertainly
  4. sattrue
  5. śiṣyaiḥby disciples
  6. kartavyamto be done
  7. guruto the spiritual master
  8. niṣkṛtamrepayment of one’s debt
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.80

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.80

    In this verse: “duty”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might seeing yourself as the Lord’s servant change your sense of “I” and “mine”?

Practice

Use a small portion of your time or resources today in devotional service, consciously offering it with a pure intention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOffering Everything With a Pure HeartThis 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 10.80.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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