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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 84: The Sages’ Teachings at Kurukṣetra
10.84.24-2510.84.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.84.26

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The great sagessince 10.84.16inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तस्याद्य ते दद‍ृशिमाङ्‍‍घ्रिमघौघमर्ष-

तीर्थास्पदं हृदि कृतं सुविपक्व‍योगै: ।

उत्सिक्तभक्त्युपहताशयजीवकोशा

आपुर्भवद्गतिमथानुगृहाण भक्तान् ॥ २६ ॥

tasyādya te dadṛśimāṅghrim aghaugha-marṣa-

tīrthāspadaṁ hṛdi kṛtaṁ su-vipakva-yogaiḥ

utsikta-bhakty-upahatāśaya jīva-kośā

āpur bhavad-gatim athānugṛhāna bhaktān

Translation

Today we have directly seen Your feet, the source of the holy Ganges, which washes away volumes of sins. Perfected yogīs can at best meditate upon Your feet within their hearts. But only those who render You wholehearted devotional service and in this way vanquish the soul’s covering — the material mind — attain You as their final destination. Therefore kindly show mercy to us, Your devotees.

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.

Pure Devotional Service Brings Full Perfection

  1. 1

    The Ganges destroys sinful reactions because she originates at the Lord’s lotus feet and contains their dust.

  2. 2

    Spiritual knowledge and austerity do not make devotional service unnecessary. Only surrender to Kṛṣṇa in pure devotional service removes the material mind and ego and brings full perfection.

  3. 3

    The sages ask for the Lord’s greatest mercy: that He make them His devotees. Attaining Him is their final goal.

Key points from the purport
  • The holy river Ganges has the power to destroy all sorts of sinful reactions because she originates at the Lord’s lotus feet and thus contains the dust of His feet.
  • They conclude by praying to the Lord that He favor them in the most merciful way by making them His devotees.”

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 water at a holy place of pilgrimage and the deity forms of the gods can purify one only after a long time, but saintly sages purify just by being seen. Those who identify themselves with their bodies and neglect to honor transcendental sages like you are no better than asses.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.84
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasyaHis
  2. adyatoday
  3. teYour
  4. dadṛśimawe have seen
  5. aṅghrimthe feet
  6. aghaof sins
  7. oghafloods
  8. marṣawhich undo
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.84

    In this verse: “sins”, “sinful”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.84

    In this verse: “kindly”

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 seek the Lord’s mercy chiefly to become His devotee?

Practice

Offer a short prayer to Kṛṣṇa today, asking for wholehearted devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Devotional Service Brings Full PerfectionThis 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 10.84.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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