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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 84: The Sages’ Teachings at Kurukṣetra
10.84.1710.84.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.84.18

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The great sagessince 10.84.16inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अथापि काले स्वजनाभिगुप्तये

बिभर्षि सत्त्वं खलनिग्रहाय च ।

स्वलीलया वेदपथं सनातनं

वर्णाश्रमात्मा पुरुष: परो भवान् ॥ १८ ॥

athāpi kāle sva-janābhiguptaye

bibharṣi sattvaṁ khala-nigrahāya ca

sva-līlayā veda-pathaṁ sanātanaṁ

varṇāśramātmā puruṣaḥ paro bhavān

Translation

Nonetheless, at suitable times You assume the pure mode of goodness to protect Your devotees and punish the wicked. Thus You, the Soul of the varṇāśrama social order, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, maintain the eternal path of the Vedas by enjoying Your pleasure pastimes.

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 Appears in Pure Goodness

  1. 1

    At suitable times, the Supreme Personality of Godhead protects His devotees and punishes the wicked.

  2. 2

    Through His pleasure pastimes, He maintains the eternal path of the Vedas. He is the Soul of the varṇāśrama social order.

  3. 3

    His manifested body is not touched by material goodness. It consists of viśuddha-sattva, the pure spiritual goodness of His original form.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse describes the Lord’s enlightening people in general (jana-saṅgraha) and His imitation of worldly behavior.
  • Because the Personality of Godhead remains always perfect, the body He manifests when He comes to this world is not touched by material goodness; rather, it is a manifestation of the pure goodness known as viśuddha-sattva, the same spiritual substance that constitutes His original form.

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 84: The Sages’ Teachings at Kurukṣetra

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The sages continued to glorify the Lord as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul, and the friend and worshiper of the brāhmaṇas. After the sages had praised Him, Lord Kṛṣṇa offered them His obeisances, and they begged His permission to return to their hermitages.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.84
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. atha apinonetheless
  2. kāleat the correct time
  3. sva-janaof Your devotees
  4. abhiguptayefor the protection
  5. bibharṣiYou assume
  6. sattvamthe mode of goodness
  7. khalaof the wicked
  8. nigrahāyafor the punishment
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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.84

    In this verse: “protect”, “protects”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.84

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 10.84

    In this verse: “varṇāśrama”

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

Do I distinguish the Lord’s pure spiritual form from a material body?

Practice

Write one sentence explaining that the Lord’s form is spiritual, not a product of material goodness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Appears in Pure GoodnessThis 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 10.84.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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