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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
10.84.4610.84.48

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.84.47

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.84.42inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तमभ्यषिञ्चन् विधिवदक्तमभ्यक्तमृत्विज: ।

पत्नीभिरष्टादशभि: सोमराजमिवोडुभि: ॥ ४७ ॥

tam abhyaṣiñcan vidhi-vad

aktam abhyaktam ṛtvijaḥ

patnībhir aṣṭā-daśabhiḥ

soma-rājam ivoḍubhiḥ

Translation

After Vasudeva’s eyes had been decorated with black cosmetic and his body smeared with fresh butter, the priests initiated him according to scriptural rules by sprinkling him and his eighteen wives with sacred water. Encircled by his wives, he resembled the regal moon encircled by stars.

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.

Initiation According to Scriptural Rules

  1. 1

    The priests initiated Vasudeva by sprinkling sacred water on him and his eighteen wives, following scriptural rules.

  2. 2

    Devakī was Vasudeva’s principal wife. His wives also included her six sisters.

  3. 3

    With his eyes decorated and his body smeared with fresh butter, Vasudeva stood surrounded by his wives like the regal moon encircled by stars.

Key points from the purport
  • Devakī was Vasudeva’s principal wife, but she had several co-wives, including her six sisters.
  • Vasudeva, the father of Kṛṣṇa, married all these sisters.”
  • Some of Vasudeva’s other wives are mentioned a few verses later:

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· 2

The purport of SB 10.84.47 quotesSB 9.24.21-23

Vasudeva, the father of Kṛṣṇa, married all these sisters.”

The purport of SB 10.84.47 quotesSB 9.24.45

Among them all, Devakī was the chief.”

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:

Vasudeva then requested the sages to act as his priests, and he arranged for Vedic sacrifices to be performed with superexcellent paraphernalia. Afterward, Vasudeva presented the priests with valuable gifts of cows and jewelry, and also with marriageable brāhmaṇa girls.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.84
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamhim
  2. abhyaṣiñcanthey sprinkled with sacred water
  3. vidhivataccording to scriptural rules
  4. aktamhis eyes decorated with mascara
  5. abhyaktamhis body smeared with newly churned butter
  6. ṛtvijaḥthe priests
  7. patnībhiḥalong with his wives
  8. aṣṭā-daśabhiḥeighteen
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

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

What does the careful observance of scriptural rules invite me to notice about sacred ceremonies?

Practice

Reread the initiation description today and note one detail showing its careful preparation.

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 9.24.21SB 9.24.45

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

Live this todayInitiation According to Scriptural RulesThis 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 10.84.47? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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