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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
10.81.3910.81.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.81.40

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.81.38inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एवं स विप्रो भगवत्सुहृत्तदा

द‍ृष्ट्वा स्वभृत्यैरजितं पराजितम् ।

तद्ध्यानवेगोद्ग्रथितात्मबन्धन-

स्तद्धाम लेभेऽचिरत: सतां गतिम् ॥ ४० ॥

evaṁ sa vipro bhagavat-suhṛt tadā

dṛṣṭvā sva-bhṛtyair ajitaṁ parājitam

tad-dhyāna-vegodgrathitātma-bandhanas

tad-dhāma lebhe ’cirataḥ satāṁ gatim

Translation

Thus seeing how the unconquerable Supreme Lord is nonetheless conquered by His own servants, the Lord’s dear brāhmaṇa friend felt the remaining knots of material attachment within his heart being cut by the force of his constant meditation on the Lord. In a short time he attained Lord Kṛṣṇa’s supreme abode, the destination of great saints.

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.

Meditation on the Lord Cuts Attachment

  1. 1

    Sudāmā saw that the unconquerable Supreme Lord is conquered by His own servants. Constant meditation on the Lord cut the remaining knots of material attachment in his heart.

  2. 2

    Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī explains that Sudāmā’s last trace of illusion was subtle pride in being a renounced brāhmaṇa. Contemplating the Supreme Lord’s submission to His devotees destroyed even this trace.

  3. 3

    Beyond his earthly fortune, Sudāmā received the treasure of attaining Lord Kṛṣṇa’s supreme abode. He reached this destination of great saints in a short time.

Key points from the purport
  • Sudāmā’s earthly fortune has been described, and now Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes the treasure the brāhmaṇa enjoyed in the next world.
  • Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī mentions that Sudāmā’s last trace of illusion lay in the subtle pride of being a renounced brāhmaṇa.
  • This trace was also destroyed by his contemplating the Supreme Lord’s submission to His devotees.

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. evamthus
  2. saḥhe
  3. vipraḥthe brāhmaṇa
  4. bhagavatof the Supreme Lord
  5. suhṛtthe friend
  6. tadāthen
  7. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  8. svaHis own
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attachment”, “material”, “illusion”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Dainya · Humility

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

    In this verse: “pride”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I notice subtle pride in my spiritual efforts, and how might contemplating the Lord’s submission to His devotees soften it?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute contemplating how the unconquerable Supreme Lord allows Himself to be conquered by His servants.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMeditation on the Lord Cuts AttachmentThis 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.

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