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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 85: Lord Kṛṣṇa Instructs Vasudeva and Retrieves Devakī’s Sons

10.85.30 10.85.32-33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.85.31

Āśraya· The supreme shelter

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śrī Devakīsince 10.85.29inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यस्यांशांशांशभागेन विश्वोत्पत्तिलयोदया: ।

भवन्ति किल विश्वात्मंस्तं त्वाद्याहं गतिं गता ॥ ३१ ॥

yasyāṁśāṁśāṁśa-bhāgena

viśvotpatti-layodayāḥ

bhavanti kila viśvātmaṁs

taṁ tvādyāhaṁ gatiṁ gatā

Translation

O Soul of all that be, the creation, maintenance and destruction of the universe are all carried out by a fraction of an expansion of an expansion of Your expansion. Today I have come to take shelter of You, the Supreme Lord.

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.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Take Shelter of the Supreme Source

1
Devakī addresses the Lord as the Soul of all that exists and comes to take shelter of Him.
2
Nārāyaṇa, the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha, is an expansion of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and Mahā-Viṣṇu is an expansion of Nārāyaṇa. The total material energy emanates from Mahā-Viṣṇu’s glance, and the three modes are portions of that energy.
3
Śrī Kṛṣṇa generates, sustains, and dissolves the universe through His expansions. Devakī’s prayer directs attention to taking shelter of the Supreme Lord Himself.

Key points from the purport

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains this verse as follows: The Lord of Vaikuṇṭha, Nārāyaṇa, is but one expansion of Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
Mahā-Viṣṇu, the first creator, is Lord Nārāyaṇa’s expansion.
Thus it is Śrī Kṛṣṇa, acting through His expansions, who generates, sustains and dissolves the universe.

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

Chapter 85: Lord Kṛṣṇa Instructs Vasudeva and Retrieves Devakī’s Sons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Please bring back my sons who were killed by Kaṁsa so I may see them once again.” Entreated in this way by Their mother, the two Lords went to the subterranean planet of Sutala, where They approached Bali Mahārāja.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.85

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

yasyawhose
aṁśaof the expansion
aṁśaof the expansion
aṁśaof the expansion
bhāgenaby a part
viśvaof the universe
utpattithe generation
layadissolution

Key ideas in this verse

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

Āśraya · The summum bonum
Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10
Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender
Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.85
In this verse: “shelter”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.85
In this verse: “material”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can recognizing Kṛṣṇa as the source of the universe deepen your desire to take shelter of Him?

Practice

Offer a short prayer to Kṛṣṇa today, expressing your wish to take shelter of Him and serve Him.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTake Shelter of the Supreme SourceThis 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 10.85.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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