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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 81: The Lord Blesses Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa
10.81.510.81.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.81.6-7

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.81.5inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सर्वभूतात्मद‍ृक् साक्षात् तस्यागमनकारणम् ।

विज्ञायाचिन्तयन्नायं श्रीकामो माभजत्पुरा ॥ ६ ॥

पत्न्‍या: पतिव्रतायास्तु सखा प्रियचिकीर्षया ।

प्राप्तो मामस्य दास्यामि सम्पदोऽमर्त्यदुर्लभा: ॥ ७ ॥

sarva-bhūtātma-dṛk sākṣāt

tasyāgamana-kāraṇam

vijṅāyācintayan nāyaṁ

śrī-kāmo mābhajat purā

patnyāḥ pati-vratāyās tu

sakhā priya-cikīrṣayā

prāpto mām asya dāsyāmi

sampado ’martya-durlabhāḥ

Translation

Being the direct witness in the hearts of all living beings, Lord Kṛṣṇa fully understood why Sudāmā had come to see Him. Thus He thought, “In the past My friend has never worshiped Me out of a desire for material opulence, but now he comes to Me to satisfy his chaste and devoted wife. I will give him riches that even the immortal demigods cannot obtain.”

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.

Kṛṣṇa Understands His Devotee’s Motives

  1. 1

    As the direct witness in every heart, Kṛṣṇa fully understood why Sudāmā had come. His friend had never worshiped Him for material opulence.

  2. 2

    The Lord does not force worldly enjoyment upon a devotee who is deeply averse to it. He may give wealth and power to a devotee who is neither attracted nor repelled by material things.

  3. 3

    Sudāmā came out of compassion for his faithful wife and a longing to see Kṛṣṇa. The Lord decided to give him riches beyond the reach of the immortal demigods.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī comments that the Lord momentarily wondered, “How has it come about, despite My omniscience, that this devotee of Mine has fallen into such poverty?”
  • The Supreme Lord does not force sense gratification upon the devotee who is extremely averse to worldly enjoyments.
  • Up to this point in his life, Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa was totally averse to sense gratification, but now, out of compassion for his faithful wife — and also because he hankered to have Kṛṣṇa’s audience — he went to beg from the Lord.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 10.81.6-7 quotesBG 9.22

This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (9.22): “But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form — to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

However, since Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supersoul dwelling in all hearts, He knew why Sudāmā had come to visit Him. So He grabbed the bundle of flat rice Sudāmā was hiding and ate a handful of it with great pleasure.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.81
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sarvaof all
  2. bhūtaliving beings
  3. ātmaof the hearts
  4. dṛkthe witness
  5. sākṣātdirect
  6. tasyahis (Sudāmā’s)
  7. āgamanafor the coming
  8. kāraṇamthe reason
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: “material”, “wealth”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiped”, “devotee”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “friend”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What motives do you notice in your own desire to approach Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Spend one minute examining your motives, then offer a prayer focused on serving Kṛṣṇa rather than gaining wealth.

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 todayKṛṣṇa Understands His Devotee’s MotivesThis 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 10.81.6-7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.