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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
10.81.2710.81.29-32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.81.28

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

प्रीत: स्वयं तया युक्त: प्रविष्टो निजमन्दिरम् ।

मणिस्तम्भशतोपेतं महेन्द्रभवनं यथा ॥ २८ ॥

prītaḥ svayaṁ tayā yuktaḥ

praviṣṭo nija-mandiram

maṇi-stambha-śatopetaṁ

mahendra-bhavanaṁ yathā

Translation

With pleasure he took his wife with him and entered his house, where there were hundreds of gem-studded pillars, just as in the palace of Lord Mahendra.

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.

The Lord Enriches His Devotee

  1. 1

    Sudāmā was so astonished that he wondered whose wife had approached someone as fallen as himself. The maidservants assured him that she was indeed his wife.

  2. 2

    At that moment, his body became young and beautiful, dressed in fine clothing and jewelry. These changes gave him considerable pleasure.

  3. 3

    He entered his home with his wife and saw hundreds of gem-studded pillars. The purport describes Lord Viṣṇu as bringing Indra’s opulence to earth for His poor devotee’s benefit.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī comments that Sudāmā was simply astonished at the sight of his wife.
  • As he wondered, “Who is this demigod’s wife who has approached such a fallen soul as me?” the maidservants informed him, “This is indeed your wife.”
  • The word prītaḥ here indicates that these changes gave him considerable pleasure.

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 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. prītaḥpleased
  2. svayamhimself
  3. tayāby her
  4. yuktaḥjoined
  5. praviṣṭaḥhaving entered
  6. nijahis
  7. mandiramhome
  8. maṇiwith gems
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee’s”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Sudāmā’s humble astonishment shape your understanding of receiving the Lord’s favor?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer of gratitude for the Lord’s kindness to His devotees.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Enriches His DevoteeThis 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 10.81.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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