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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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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.80.44

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रीब्राह्मण उवाच

किमस्माभिरनिर्वृत्तं देवदेव जगद्गुरो ।

भवता सत्यकामेन येषां वासो गुरोरभूत् ॥ ४४ ॥

śrī-brāhmaṇa uvāca

kim asmābhir anirvṛttaṁ

deva-deva jagad-guro

bhavatā satya-kāmena

yeṣāṁ vāso guror abhūt

Translation

The brāhmaṇa said: What could I possibly have failed to achieve, O Lord of lords, O universal teacher, since I was able to personally live with You, whose every desire is fulfilled, at the home of our spiritual master?

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.

Recognizing the Fortune of Kṛṣṇa’s Company

  1. 1

    Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa recognized his extraordinary good fortune in living with Śrī Kṛṣṇa at their spiritual master’s residence.

  2. 2

    The external difficulties they experienced were expressions of the Lord’s mercy, teaching the importance of service to the spiritual master.

  3. 3

    Sudāmā recognized Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Lord and everyone’s supreme spiritual master. Having lived with Him, Sudāmā felt that nothing remained to be achieved through prescribed Vedic duties.

Key points from the purport
  • Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa wisely understands his extraordinary good fortune of having lived with Śrī Kṛṣṇa at the residence of their spiritual master.
  • Thus whatever external difficulties they experienced were actually an expression of the Lord’s mercy, to teach the importance of service to the spiritual master.
  • Śrīla Prabhupāda renders the learned brāhmaṇa’s feelings as follows: “[Sudāmā said:] ‘My dear Kṛṣṇa, You are the Supreme Lord and the supreme spiritual master of everyone, and since I was fortunate enough to live with You in the house of our guru, I think I have nothing more to do in the matter of prescribed Vedic duties.’”

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. śrī-brāhmaṇaḥ uvācathe brāhmaṇa said
  2. kimwhat
  3. asmābhiḥby us
  4. anirvṛttamnot achieved
  5. deva-devaO Lord of lords
  6. jagatof the universe
  7. guroO spiritual master
  8. bhavatāwith You
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duties”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.80

    In this verse: “mercy”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Sudāmā’s gratitude deepen your appreciation of service to the spiritual master?

Practice

Write one sentence about why the opportunity for devotional service is a gift rather than merely a task.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecognizing the Fortune of Kṛṣṇa’s CompanyThis 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 10.80.44? Get an answer from the verses themselves.