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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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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 86: Arjuna Kidnaps Subhadrā, and Kṛṣṇa Blesses His Devotees

10.86.51 10.86.53

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.86.52

Mukti· Liberation

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:The Supreme Lordsince 10.86.51inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

देवा: क्षेत्राणि तीर्थानि दर्शनस्पर्शनार्चनै: ।

शनै: पुनन्ति कालेन तदप्यर्हत्तमेक्षया ॥ ५२ ॥

devāḥ kṣetrāṇi tīrthāni

darśana-sparśanārcanaiḥ

śanaiḥ punanti kālena

tad apy arhattamekṣayā

Translation

One can gradually become purified by seeing, touching and worshiping temple deities, places of pilgrimage and holy rivers. But one can attain the same result immediately simply by receiving the glance of exalted sages.

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.

Devotees Share the Blessing of Service

1
Seeing, touching and worshiping temple deities, pilgrimage places and holy rivers gradually purifies a person. The glance of exalted sages can bring the same result immediately.
2
Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇas of the highest order do not concentrate only on their own perfection. They dedicate their lives to sharing the blessing of the Lord’s devotional service.
3
The Lord’s devotees travel to purify even holy places. They seek to bring others to shelter at His lotus feet rather than seek liberation alone.

Key points from the purport

Rather than remaining in seclusion and concentrating on their own perfection, Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇas of the highest order dedicate their lives to sharing the benediction of the Lord’s devotional service.
Is not such activity pleasing to those who are actually afraid of material existence?”
Therefore I wish to bring them back to shelter at Your lotus feet.”

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of SB 10.86.52 quotesSB 4.30.37

Is not such activity pleasing to those who are actually afraid of material existence?”

The purport of SB 10.86.52 quotesSB 7.9.44

Therefore I wish to bring them back to shelter at Your lotus feet.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 86: Arjuna Kidnaps Subhadrā, and Kṛṣṇa Blesses His Devotees

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Lord Kṛṣṇa then praised the sages who were with Him and glorified brāhmaṇas in general. He also imparted instructions to His hosts concerning devotional service.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 10.86

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

devāḥtemple deities
kṣetrāṇipilgrimage sites
tīrthāniand sacred rivers
darśanaby being seen
sparśanabeing touched
arcanaiḥand being worshiped
śanaiḥgradually
punantipurify

Key ideas in this verse

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

Mukti · Liberation
What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.86
In this verse: “worshiping”, “devotional service”, “devotees”
Śuddhi · Inner transformation
The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 10.86
In this verse: “purified”, “purifies”
Kṛpā · Divine mercy
Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.86
In this verse: “blessing”

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 my devotional life include concern for someone else’s spiritual well-being?

Practice

Share one sentence from this verse about the blessing of devotional association with someone willing to hear.

Connected stories

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

The purport quotesSB 4.30.37 SB 7.9.44

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

Live this todayDevotees Share the Blessing of 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 10.86.52? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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