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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 · Texts 10.86.27-29

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रान्तानप्यथ तान् दूराज्जनक: स्वगृहागतान् ।

आनीतेष्वासनाग्र्‍येषु सुखासीनान् महामना: ॥ २७ ॥

प्रवृद्धभक्त्या उद्धर्षहृदयास्राविलेक्षण: ।

नत्वा तदङ्‍‍घ्रीन् प्रक्षाल्य तदपो लोकपावनी: ॥ २८ ॥

सकुटुम्बो वहन् मूर्ध्ना पूजयां चक्र ईश्वरान् ।

गन्धमाल्याम्बराकल्पधूपदीपार्घ्यगोवृषै: ॥ २९ ॥

śrāntān apy atha tān dūrāj

janakaḥ sva-gṛhāgatān

ānīteṣv āsanāgryeṣu

sukhāsīnān mahā-manāḥ

pravṛddha-bhaktyā uddharṣa-

hṛdayāsrāvilekṣaṇaḥ

natvā tad-aṅghrīn prakṣālya

tad-apo loka-pāvanīḥ

sa-kuṭumbo vahan mūrdhnā

pūjayāṁ cakra īśvarān

gandha-mālyāmbarākalpa-

dhūpa-dīpārghya-go-vṛṣaiḥ

Translation

When King Bahulāśva, a descendant of Janaka, saw Lord Kṛṣṇa approaching his house from a distance with the sages, who were somewhat fatigued from the journey, he immediately arranged to have seats of honor brought out for them. After they were all comfortably seated, the wise King, his heart overflowing with joy and his eyes clouded by tears, bowed down to them and washed their feet with intense devotion. Taking the wash water, which could purify the entire world, he sprinkled it on his head and the heads of his family members. Then he worshiped all those great lords by offering them fragrant sandalwood paste, flower garlands, fine clothing and ornaments, incense, lamps, arghya and cows and bulls.

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.

Honor the Lord with Grateful Service

  1. 1

    Bahulāśva immediately arranged comfortable seats for the Lord and the weary sages. With intense devotion and tears of joy, he bowed down and washed their feet.

  2. 2

    He sprinkled the purifying wash water on his head and his family members’ heads, then offered many gifts in worship.

  3. 3

    He knew that the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His pure devotees are always beyond worldly contamination. Astonished by their presence in his home, he thanked Kṛṣṇa for His causeless mercy.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Prabhupāda comments: “Bahulāśva, the King of Videha, was very intelligent and was a perfect gentleman.
  • Therefore, when he found that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, and all the great sages were at his home, he was astonished, and he began to thank Lord Krsna for His causeless mercy.”
  • The word īśvara in this verse refers not only to the Supreme Lord but also to the exalted sages in His company; this is confirmed by Ācāryas Śrīdhara Svāmī and Viśvanātha Cakravartī.

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 86: Arjuna Kidnaps Subhadrā, and Kṛṣṇa Blesses His Devotees

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

They each worshiped Him suitably, offered prayers, washed His feet and then sprinkled themselves and all their family members with the wash water. Lord Kṛṣṇa then praised the sages who were with Him and glorified brāhmaṇas in general.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.86
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrāntānfatigued
  2. apiindeed
  3. athathen
  4. tānthem
  5. dūrātfrom a distance
  6. janakaḥKing Bahulāśva, a descendant of Janaka
  7. svato his
  8. gṛhahome
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 10.86

    In this verse: “devotion”, “worshiped”, “devotees”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.86

    In this verse: “purify”, “purifying”, “contamination”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.86

    In this verse: “king”

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 can gratitude for the Lord’s mercy make my service more attentive?

Practice

Offer the Lord a flower today with a brief prayer of thanks for His causeless mercy.

Live this todayHonor the Lord with Grateful ServiceThis 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 10.86.27-29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.