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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 83: Draupadī Meets the Queens of Kṛṣṇa
10.83.3010.83.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.83.31

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Lakṣmaṇāsince 10.83.17inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एवं वृते भगवति मयेशे नृपयूथपा: ।

न सेहिरे याज्ञसेनि स्पर्धन्तो हृच्छयातुरा: ॥ ३१ ॥

evaṁ vṛte bhagavati

mayeśe nṛpa-yūthapāḥ

na sehire yājñaseni

spardhanto hṛc-chayāturāḥ

Translation

The leading kings there could not tolerate my having chosen the Supreme Personality of Godhead, O Draupadī. Burning with lust, they became quarrelsome.

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.

Lust Obscures Recognition of the Lord

  1. 1

    The leading kings could not tolerate her choosing the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Burning with lust, they became quarrelsome rather than accepting her choice.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that lust contaminated their judgment. Even after witnessing the Lord’s supreme power, they foolishly quarreled with Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī comments that the contamination of lust led the kings to quarrel foolishly with the Lord even after seeing His supreme power.

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 83: Draupadī Meets the Queens of Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Queen Lakṣmaṇā said to Draupadī, “At my svayaṁvara, as at yours, a fish-target was fastened near the ceiling. But in my case the fish was concealed on all sides, and only its reflection could be seen in a pot of water below.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.83
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. vṛtebeing chosen
  3. bhagavatithe Personality of Godhead
  4. mayāby me
  5. īśethe Lord
  6. nṛpaof kings
  7. yūtha-pāḥthe leaders
  8. na sehirecould not tolerate it
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.83

    In this verse: “lust”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.83

    In this verse: “kings”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.83

    In this verse: “contaminated”

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

When has a strong desire made it difficult for you to accept what you see clearly?

Practice

If a frustrated desire makes you argumentative today, pause before speaking and identify the desire.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLust Obscures Recognition of the LordThis 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 10.83.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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