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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 81: The Lord Blesses Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa
10.81.410.81.6-7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.81.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.81.5inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इत्युक्तोऽपि द्वियस्तस्मै व्रीडित: पतये श्रिय: ।

पृथुकप्रसृतिं राजन् न प्रायच्छदवाङ्‍मुख: ॥ ५ ॥

ity ukto ’pi dviyas tasmai

vrīḍitaḥ pataye śriyaḥ

pṛthuka-prasṛtiṁ rājan

na prāyacchad avāṅ-mukhaḥ

Translation

[Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued:] Even after being addressed in this way, O King, the brāhmaṇa felt too embarrassed to offer his palmfuls of flat rice to the husband of the goddess of fortune. He simply kept his head bowed in shame.

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 Honors His Devotee’s Intention

  1. 1

    The brāhmaṇa remained too embarrassed to offer his flat rice and kept his head bowed.

  2. 2

    Sudāmā wondered how the Lord of Śrī could eat such hard, stale rice. He resolved not to give it, even if the Lord asked repeatedly.

  3. 3

    The Lord, however, intended that His devotee’s purpose in bringing the gift should not be frustrated.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Ācārya Viśvanātha Cakravartī, the description here of Kṛṣṇa as “the husband of the goddess of fortune” implies that Sudāmā questioned himself, “How can the Lord of Śrī eat this hard, stale rice?”
  • By bowing his head, the brāhmaṇa revealed his meditation: “My dear master, please do not make me ashamed.
  • But the Lord countered with His own thought: “The intention you had fixed in your mind while coming here must not be frustrated, for you are My devotee.”

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:

This chapter describes how Lord Kṛṣṇa ate a morsel of the flat rice brought by His friend Sudāmā and bestowed upon him wealth greater than that of the King of heaven. In the course of His loving talks with His friend Sudāmā, Lord Kṛṣṇa said, “My dear brāhmaṇa, have you brought any gift for Me from home?
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.81
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itithus
  2. uktaḥaddressed
  3. apialthough
  4. dvijaḥthe brāhmaṇa
  5. tasmaito Him
  6. vrīḍitaḥembarrassed
  7. patayeto the husband
  8. śriyaḥof the goddess of fortune
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.81

    In this verse: “king”

  • 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

Have you ever hesitated to serve the Lord because what you could offer seemed inadequate?

Practice

Identify one simple service you have hesitated to offer, and take a small step toward doing it today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Honors His Devotee’s IntentionThis 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 10.81.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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