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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
10.81.3510.81.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.81.36

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

तस्यैव मे सौहृदसख्यमैत्री

दास्यं पुनर्जन्मनि जन्मनि स्यात् ।

महानुभावेन गुणालयेन

विषज्जतस्तत्पुरुषप्रसङ्ग: ॥ ३६ ॥

tasyaiva me sauhṛda-sakhya-maitrī-

dāsyaṁ punar janmani janmani syāt

mahānubhāvena guṇālayena

viṣajjatas tat-puruṣa-prasaṅgaḥ

Translation

The Lord is the supremely compassionate reservoir of all transcendental qualities. Life after life may I serve Him with love, friendship and sympathy, and may I cultivate such firm attachment for Him by the precious association of His devotees.

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.

Seek Loving Service Life After Life

  1. 1

    Sudāmā prayed to serve the supremely compassionate Lord, the reservoir of all transcendental qualities, life after life.

  2. 2

    The purport explains love as affection for the compassionate Lord, friendship as the desire for His company, and sympathy as intimate comradeship. Servitude is the urge to serve Him.

  3. 3

    Sudāmā wished to cultivate firm attachment to the Lord through the precious association of His devotees. Loving devotional service was his prayer.

Key points from the purport
  • As explained by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, sauhṛdam here signifies affection toward Him who is so compassionate to His devotees, sakhyam is affinity manifested in the desire to live in His company, maitrī is the attitude of intimate comradeship, and dāsyam is the urge to do service.

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:

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. tasyafor Him
  2. evaindeed
  3. memy
  4. sauhṛdalove
  5. sakhyafriendship
  6. maitrīsympathy
  7. dāsyamand servitude
  8. punaḥrepeatedly
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: “devotees”, “devotional service”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.81

    In this verse: “compassionate”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.81

    In this verse: “friendship”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How could association with the Lord’s devotees strengthen your desire to serve Him?

Practice

Contact a devotee today and ask about one way to cultivate loving service to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek Loving Service Life After LifeThis 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 10.81.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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