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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
10.81.3610.81.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.81.37

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

भक्ताय चित्रा भगवान् हि सम्पदो

राज्यं विभूतीर्न समर्थयत्यज: ।

अदीर्घबोधाय विचक्षण: स्वयं

पश्यन् निपातं धनिनां मदोद्भ‍वम् ॥ ३७ ॥

bhaktāya citrā bhagavān hi sampado

rājyaṁ vibhūtīr na samarthayaty ajaḥ

adīrgha-bodhāya vicakṣaṇaḥ svayaṁ

paśyan nipātaṁ dhanināṁ madodbhavam

Translation

To a devotee who lacks spiritual insight, the Supreme Lord will not grant the wonderful opulences of this world — kingly power and material assets. Indeed, in His infinite wisdom the unborn Lord well knows how the intoxication of pride can cause the downfall of the wealthy.

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.

Devotion Is More Precious Than Wealth

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, knows that pride in wealth can cause downfall. He limits a sincere but less intelligent devotee’s wealth to what will promote devotional progress.

  2. 2

    Sudāmā humbly considered himself unworthy of pure devotional service, the Lord’s most rare and valuable benediction. Rather than taking his riches as proof of devotion, he remained wary of temptation.

  3. 3

    This humility assured Sudāmā success in bhakti-yoga through hearing and repeating Lord Kṛṣṇa’s glories. Pure devotional service, not material opulence, remained the goal.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa would have protected a more serious devotee by denying him such distractions.
  • The Lord will give a sincere but less intelligent devotee not as much material wealth as he desires, but only what will promote his devotional progress.
  • We may understand that this humble attitude assured Sudāmā Vipra final success in his execution of bhakti-yoga by the standard process of hearing and repeating the glories of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

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. bhaktāyato His devotee
  2. citrāḥwonderful
  3. bhagavānthe Supreme Lord
  4. hiindeed
  5. sampadaḥopulences
  6. rājyamkingdom
  7. vibhūtīḥmaterial assets
  8. na samarthayatidoes not bestow
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.81

    In this verse: “wealthy”, “material”, “wealth”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Dainya · Humility

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

    In this verse: “pride”, “humility”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Are you measuring spiritual success by outward comfort or by growing steadiness in devotional service?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to read aloud about Lord Kṛṣṇa’s glories, giving devotional service priority over material concerns.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.81's connections

Live this todayDevotion Is More Precious Than WealthThis 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 10.81.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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