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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 10.81.35

Who is speaking and story frame

किञ्चित्करोत्युर्वपि यत् स्वदत्तं

सुहृत्कृतं फल्ग्वपि भूरिकारी ।

मयोपनीतं पृथुकैकमुष्टिं

प्रत्यग्रहीत् प्रीतियुतो महात्मा ॥ ३५ ॥

kiñcit karoty urv api yat sva-dattaṁ

suhṛt-kṛtaṁ phalgv api bhūri-kārī

mayopaṇītaṁ pṛthukaika-muṣṭiṁ

pratyagrahīt prīti-yuto mahātmā

Translation

The Lord considers even His greatest benedictions to be insignificant, while He magnifies even a small service rendered to Him by His well-wishing devotee. Thus with pleasure the Supreme Soul accepted a single palmful of the flat rice I brought 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.

The Lord Magnifies Small Service

  1. 1

    The Lord considers even His greatest benedictions insignificant.

  2. 2

    He regards even a small service from His well-wishing devotee as something great.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Soul accepted a single palmful of Sudāmā’s flat rice with pleasure. His response reveals His loving appreciation of devotional service.

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:

Sudāmā entered his home together with her, thinking that this extraordinary transformation must have been due to the Supreme Lord’s mercy on him. From then on Sudāmā lived his life amidst lavish wealth, yet he maintained his mood of detachment and constantly chanted the glories of Lord Kṛṣṇa In a short time he broke off all bonds of bodily attachment and attained to the kingdom of God.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.81
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kiñcitinsignificant
  2. karotiHe makes
  3. urugreat
  4. apieven
  5. yatwhich
  6. svaby Himself
  7. dattamgiven
  8. suhṛtby a well-wishing friend
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”, “devotional service”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does knowing that the Lord values small service encourage you to offer what you can?

Practice

Offer one small act of service to Lord Kṛṣṇa today with sincere goodwill.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Magnifies Small 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 10.81.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.