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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
10.83.4010.83.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.83.41-42

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Rohiṇī-devi, speaking for the other queenssince 10.83.40inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

न वयं साध्वि साम्राज्यं स्वाराज्यं भौज्यमप्युत ।

वैराज्यं पारमेष्ठ्यं च आनन्त्यं वा हरे: पदम् ॥ ४१ ॥

कामयामह एतस्य श्रीमत्पादरज: श्रिय: ।

कुचकुङ्कुमगन्धाढ्यं मूर्ध्ना वोढुं गदाभृत: ॥ ४२ ॥

na vayaṁ sādhvi sāmrājyaṁ

svārājyaṁ bhaujyam apy uta

vairājyaṁ pārameṣṭhyaṁ ca

ānantyaṁ vā hareḥ padam

kāmayāmaha etasya

śrīmat-pāda-rajaḥ śriyaḥ

kuca-kuṅkuma-gandhāḍhyaṁ

mūrdhnā voḍhuṁ gadā-bhṛtaḥ

Translation

O saintly lady, we do not desire dominion over the earth, the sovereignty of the King of heaven, unlimited facility for enjoyment, mystic power, the position of Lord Brahmā, immortality or even attainment of the kingdom of God. We simply desire to carry on our heads the glorious dust of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s feet, enriched by the fragrance of kuṅkuma from His consort’s bosom.

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.

Devotion Beyond Power and Liberation

  1. 1

    The queens do not desire earthly or heavenly sovereignty, unlimited enjoyment, mystic powers, Brahmā’s position or immortality. They do not seek even liberation or entrance into the kingdom of God.

  2. 2

    They simply desire to carry the glorious dust of Kṛṣṇa’s feet on their heads. Their goal is loving service rather than any exalted position.

  3. 3

    The purport identifies the Śrī mentioned here as Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the Lord’s primeval internal potency. She possesses the attractiveness to attract Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The verb rāj means “to rule,” and from it are derived the words sāmrājyam, meaning “rulership over the entire earth,” and svārājyam, meaning “rulership over heaven.”
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa’s queens clearly state that they do not desire any of these powers, or even the position of Brahmā, liberation or entrance into the kingdom of God.
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī tells us that the goddess of fortune mentioned here is not Lakṣmī, the consort of Nārāyaṇa.

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 10.83.41-42 quotesSB 10.47.60

After all, the ācārya explains, Goddess Lakṣmī could not attain the direct association of Kṛṣṇa even after performing extended austerities, as Uddhava states: nāyaṁ śrīyo ’ṅga u nitānta-rateḥ prasādaḥ.

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 83: Draupadī Meets the Queens of Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Lord Kṛṣṇa valiantly fought them, cutting off the heads, arms and legs of many and sending the rest fleeing for their lives. Then the Lord took me to Dvārakā for our lavish wedding.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.83
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. vayamwe
  3. sādhviO saintly lady (Draupadī)
  4. sāmrājyamrulership over the entire earth
  5. sva-rājyamthe position of Lord Indra, King of heaven
  6. bhaujyamunlimited powers of enjoyment
  7. api utaeven
  8. vairājyammystic power
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.83

    In this verse: “king”, “kingdom”

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

How does the queens’ desire challenge what you hope to gain through devotion?

Practice

Offer a short prayer asking for loving service to Kṛṣṇa rather than power, enjoyment or an exalted position.

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.

The purport quotesSB 10.47.60

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.83's connections

Live this todayDevotion Beyond Power and LiberationThis 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 10.83.41-42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.