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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 10.84.41

Who is speaking and story frame

वसुदेव भवान् नूनं भक्त्या परमया हरिम् ।

जगतामीश्वरं प्रार्च: स यद् वां पुत्रतां गत: ॥ ४१ ॥

vasudeva bhavān nūnaṁ

bhaktyā paramayā harim

jagatām īśvaraṁ prārcaḥ

sa yad vāṁ putratāṁ gataḥ

Translation

O Vasudeva, without doubt you must have previously worshiped Lord Hari, the master of all worlds. Both you and your wife must have perfectly worshiped Him with supreme devotion, since He has accepted the role of your son.

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.

Full Surrender Transcends Separate Debts

  1. 1

    The sages declare that Vasudeva and his wife must have worshiped Lord Hari, the master of all worlds, with supreme devotion, since He accepted the role of their son.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that Vasudeva is the eternally liberated father of the Supreme Lord. The sages’ ordinary instructions do not mean that worldly customs or scriptural injunctions have authority over him.

  3. 3

    Vasudeva’s name indicates the superexcellent wealth of pure devotional service. One fully surrendered to the service of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has no separate debts, because all living beings are His parts and parcels.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī paraphrases the sages’ mood as follows: “We have answered you, who questioned us in the manner of ordinary discourse, in the same ordinary way.
  • In truth, however, since you are the eternally liberated father of the Supreme Lord, neither worldly customs nor the injunctions of scripture have any authority over you.”
  • Since all such classes of living entities are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, one who has surrendered to the Lord’s service has no need to serve such persons separately.”

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 10.84.41 quotesSB 11.5.41

Since all such classes of living entities are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, one who has surrendered to the Lord’s service has no need to serve such persons separately.”

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 84: The Sages’ Teachings at Kurukṣetra

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The sages replied, “By worshiping the Supreme Lord, Hari, through the performance of Vedic sacrifices, you will become free from the bondage of fruitive work.” Vasudeva then requested the sages to act as his priests, and he arranged for Vedic sacrifices to be performed with superexcellent paraphernalia.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.84
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vasudevaO Vasudeva
  2. bhavānyour good self
  3. nūnamdoubtlessly
  4. bhaktyāwith devotion
  5. paramayāsupreme
  6. harimLord Kṛṣṇa
  7. jagatāmof all the worlds
  8. īśvaramthe supreme controller
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”, “worshiped”, “devotional service”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.84

    In this verse: “wealth”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.84

    In this verse: “father”

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

Am I seeking the wealth of pure devotional service or mainly relief from obligations?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Kṛṣṇa asking to take fuller shelter of Him through devotional service.

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 11.5.41

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.84's connections

Live this todayFull Surrender Transcends Separate DebtsThis 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 10.84.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.