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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.83.12

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रीमित्रविन्दोवाच

यो मां स्वयंवर उपेत्य विजित्य भूपान्

निन्ये श्वयूथगमिवात्मबलिं द्विपारि: ।

भ्रातृंश्च मेऽपकुरुत: स्वपुरं श्रियौक-

स्तस्यास्तु मेऽनुभवमङ्घ्रय‍वनेजनत्वम् ॥ १२ ॥

śrī-mitravindovāca

yo māṁ svayaṁvara upetya vijitya bhū-pān

ninye śva-yūtha-gaṁ ivātma-baliṁ dvipāriḥ

bhrātṝṁś ca me ’pakurutaḥ sva-puraṁ śriyaukas

tasyāstu me ’nu-bhavam aṅghry-avanejanatvam

Translation

Śrī Mitravindā said: At my svayaṁvara ceremony He came forward, defeated all the kings present — including my brothers, who dared insult Him — and took me away just as a lion removes his prey from amidst a pack of dogs. Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa, the shelter of the goddess of fortune, brought me to His capital city. May I be allowed to serve Him by washing His feet, life after life.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Seeking Service Life After Life

  1. 1

    Mitravindā recalls how Lord Kṛṣṇa defeated all the kings at her svayaṁvara, including her brothers who insulted Him.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa, the shelter of the goddess of fortune, took her away and brought her to His capital city.

  3. 3

    Her prayer is to serve Him by washing His feet, life after life. Service to Him is her cherished desire.

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 83: Draupadī Meets the Queens of Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Queen Mitravindā said, “Śrī Kṛṣṇa came to my svayaṁvara ceremony, where He defeated all the opposing kings and took me away to His city of Dvārakā.” Queen Satyā said, “My father stipulated that to win my hand, a prospective suitor would have to subdue and tie up seven powerful bulls.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.83
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-mitravindā uvācaŚrī Mitravindā said
  2. yaḥwho
  3. māmme
  4. svayaṁ-vareduring my svayaṁvara (the ceremony in which a princess chooses a husband from a number of eligible suitors)
  5. upetyacoming forward
  6. vijityaafter defeating
  7. bhū-pānkings
  8. ninyetook
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 10.83

    In this verse: “kings”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.83

    In this verse: “shelter”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What can I learn from Mitravindā’s desire for humble service?

Practice

Offer a short prayer asking for the opportunity to serve Lord Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeeking 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 10.83.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.