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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
10.86.410.86.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.86.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.86.2-3inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एकदा गृहमानीय आतिथ्येन निमन्‍त्र्य तम् ।

श्रद्धयोपहृतं भैक्ष्यं बलेन बुभुजे किल ॥ ५ ॥

ekadā gṛham ānīya

ātithyena nimantrya tam

śraddhayopahṛtaṁ bhaikṣyaṁ

balena bubhuje kila

Translation

One day Lord Balarāma brought him to His home as His invited dinner guest, and Arjuna ate the food the Lord respectfully offered him.

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.

Lord Balarāma Respectfully Welcomes His Guest

  1. 1

    Lord Balarāma invited Arjuna into His home for dinner and respectfully offered him food.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that Arjuna, in his sannyāsī role, had just completed the four-month rainy-season vows.

  3. 3

    He could now accept general invitations from householders again. Thus his visit to Lord Balarāma did not suggest any unusual motive.

Key points from the purport
  • From the explanation of Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, it is understood that Arjuna in his sannyāsī role had just finished the four-month vows of the rainy season and could now again accept general invitations from householders.
  • Thus no one would have suspected any unusual motive in his visiting Lord Balarāma at this time.

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:

One day Arjuna received an invitation to dine at Lord Balarāma’s home. There he caught sight of Subhadrā and was immediately overwhelmed with desire for her.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.86
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ekadāonce
  2. gṛhamto His (Balarāma’s) home
  3. ānīyabringing
  4. ātithyenaas a guest
  5. nimantryainviting
  6. tamhim (Arjuna)
  7. śraddhayāwith faith
  8. upahṛtampresented
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.86

    In this verse: “householders”

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 the explanation of the rainy-season vows clarify Arjuna’s visit?

Practice

Offer someone food or a drink with deliberate respect today.

Live this todayLord Balarāma Respectfully Welcomes His GuestThis 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 10.86.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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