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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 86: Arjuna Kidnaps Subhadrā, and Kṛṣṇa Blesses His Devotees
10.86.4810.86.50

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.86.49

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrutadevasince 10.86.44inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स त्वं शाधि स्वभृत्यान् न: किं देव करवाम हे ।

एतदन्तो नृणां क्लेशो यद् भवानक्षिगोचर: ॥ ४९ ॥

sa tvaṁ śādhi sva-bhṛtyān naḥ

kiṁ deva karavāma he

etad-anto nṛṇāṁ kleśo

yad bhavān akṣi-gocaraḥ

Translation

O Lord, You are that Supreme Soul, and we are Your servants. How shall we serve You? My Lord, simply seeing You puts an end to all the troubles of human life.

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.

We Are the Supreme Soul’s Servants

  1. 1

    Śrutadeva addresses the Lord as the Supreme Soul.

  2. 2

    He identifies himself and his companions as the Lord’s servants and asks how they should serve Him.

  3. 3

    Śrutadeva declares that simply seeing the Lord puts an end to all the troubles of human life.

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:

To satisfy both of them, the Lord expanded Himself and went to each of their homes simultaneously. They each worshiped Him suitably, offered prayers, washed His feet and then sprinkled themselves and all their family members with the wash water.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.86
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥHe
  2. tvamYou
  3. śādhiplease order
  4. svaYour
  5. bhṛtyānservants
  6. naḥus
  7. kimwhat
  8. devaO Lord
3

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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.86

    In this verse: “companions”

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 I approach the Lord with a greater desire to serve?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer today using Śrutadeva’s question: “How shall we serve You?”

Live this todayWe Are the Supreme Soul’s ServantsThis 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 10.86.49? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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