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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 81: The Lord Blesses Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa
10.81.1710.81.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.81.18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.81.12inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

शुश्रूषया परमया पादसंवाहनादिभि: ।

पूजितो देवदेवेन विप्रदेवेन देववत् ॥ १८ ॥

śuśrūṣayā paramayā

pāda-saṁvāhanādibhiḥ

pūjito deva-devena

vipra-devena deva-vat

Translation

Although He is the Lord of all demigods and the object of worship for all brāhmaṇas, He worshiped me as if I were a demigod myself, massaging my feet and rendering other humble services.

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.

The Worshipable Lord Renders Humble Service

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is the Lord of all demigods and the object of worship for all brāhmaṇas.

  2. 2

    Yet He honored Sudāmā as if Sudāmā were himself a demigod.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa massaged Sudāmā’s feet and rendered other humble services. Sudāmā remembered this personal attention with wonder.

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 81: The Lord Blesses Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Feeling as if he had gone back to Godhead, Sudāmā spent that night comfortably in Lord Kṛṣṇa’s palace, and the next morning he set off for home. As he passed along the highway, he thought of how fortunate he was to have been so honored by Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.81
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śuśrūṣayāwith service
  2. paramayāsincere
  3. pādaof the feet
  4. saṁvāhanamassaging
  5. ādibhiḥand so on
  6. pūjitaḥworshiped
  7. deva-devenaby the Lord of all the demigods
  8. vipra-devenaby the Lord of the brāhmaṇas
  9. devaa demigod
  10. vatlike
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.81

    In this verse: “humble”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.81

    In this verse: “worship”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What can you learn from the worshipable Lord’s willingness to render humble service?

Practice

Perform one simple act of personal service for someone today, remembering Kṛṣṇa’s example.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Worshipable Lord Renders Humble ServiceThis 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.

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