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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 86: Arjuna Kidnaps Subhadrā, and Kṛṣṇa Blesses His Devotees
10.86.1910.86.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.86.20

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.86.13inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

आनर्तधन्वकुरुजाङ्गलकङ्कमत्स्य-

पाञ्चालकुन्तिमधुकेकयकोशलार्णा: ।

अन्ये च तन्मुखसरोजमुदारहास-

स्‍निग्धेक्षणं नृप पपुर्द‍ृशिभिर्नृनार्य: ॥ २० ॥

ānarta-dhanva-kuru-jāṅgala-kaṅka-matsya-

pāñcāla-kunti-madhu-kekaya-kośalārṇāḥ

anye ca tan-mukha-sarojam udāra-hāsa-

snigdhekṣaṇaṁ nṛpa papur dṛśibhir nr-nāryaḥ

Translation

The men and women of Ānarta, Dhanva, Kuru-jāṅgala, Kaṅka, Matsya, Pañcāla, Kunti, Madhu, Kekaya, Kośala, Arṇa and many other kingdoms drank with their eyes the nectarean beauty of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotuslike face, which was graced with generous smiles and affectionate glances.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Receiving Kṛṣṇa’s Affectionate Glance

  1. 1

    Men and women from many kingdoms beheld Lord Kṛṣṇa along His journey.

  2. 2

    They drank with their eyes the nectarean beauty of His lotuslike face.

  3. 3

    His face was graced with generous smiles and affectionate glances.

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 86: Arjuna Kidnaps Subhadrā, and Kṛṣṇa Blesses His Devotees

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Lord Balarāma was at first greatly angered to hear of this, but when Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and other family members pacified Him, He became joyful and sent the bride and groom off with elaborate wedding gifts.” There was a brāhmaṇa devotee of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s named Śrutadeva, who lived in the city of Mithilā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.86
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ānartathe people of Ānarta (the region in which Dvārakā is situated)
  2. dhanvathe desert (of Gujarat and Rajasthan)
  3. kuru-jāṅgalathe region of the Kuru forests (the districts of Thaneswar and Kurukṣetra)
  4. kaṅkaKaṅka
  5. matsyaMatsya (the kingdoms of Jaipur and Aloyar)
  6. pāñcālathe districts surrounding both banks of the Ganges
  7. kuntiMālava
  8. madhuMathurā
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.86

    In this verse: “kingdoms”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.86

    In this verse: “graced”

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

How does this description of Kṛṣṇa’s affection shape my desire to turn toward Him?

Practice

Spend a minute reflecting on Kṛṣṇa’s lotuslike face, generous smiles and affectionate glances.

5

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.86's connections

Live this todayReceiving Kṛṣṇa’s Affectionate GlanceThis 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 10.86.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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