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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 81: The Lord Blesses Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa
10.81.2510.81.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.81.26

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.81.21-23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

पतिव्रता पतिं द‍ृष्ट्वा प्रेमोत्कण्ठाश्रुलोचना ।

मीलिताक्ष्यनमद्बुद्ध्या मनसा परिषस्वजे ॥ २६ ॥

pati-vratā patiṁ dṛṣṭvā

premotkaṇṭhāśru-locanā

mīlitākṣy anamad buddhyā

manasā pariṣasvaje

Translation

When the chaste lady saw her husband, her eyes filled with tears of love and eagerness. As she held her eyes closed, she solemnly bowed down to him, and in her heart she embraced him.

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.

Love Expressed Through Respect

  1. 1

    Seeing her husband, the devoted wife’s eyes filled with tears of love and eagerness.

  2. 2

    She closed her eyes and solemnly bowed down to him. Her greeting expressed both affection and respect.

  3. 3

    In her heart she embraced him. Her love was expressed inwardly as well as through her outward greeting.

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:

The brāhmaṇa’s wife, wonderfully adorned with celestial jewelry, came out of the palace and welcomed him with great love and reverence. Sudāmā entered his home together with her, thinking that this extraordinary transformation must have been due to the Supreme Lord’s mercy on him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.81
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pati-vratādevoted to her husband
  2. patimher husband
  3. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  4. premaof love
  5. utkaṇṭhawith the eagerness
  6. aśrutearful
  7. locanāwhose eyes
  8. mīlitaholding closed
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 10.81

    In this verse: “love”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can your greeting of someone dear to you express both affection and respect?

Practice

Greet someone dear to you today with sincere attention and a respectful gesture.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLove Expressed Through RespectThis 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 10.81.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.