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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 86: Arjuna Kidnaps Subhadrā, and Kṛṣṇa Blesses His Devotees
10.86.5310.86.55

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.86.54

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Lordsince 10.86.51inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

न ब्राह्मणान्मे दयितं रूपमेतच्चतुर्भुजम् ।

सर्ववेदमयो विप्र: सर्वदेवमयो ह्यहम् ॥ ५४ ॥

na brāhmaṇān me dayitaṁ

rūpam etac catur-bhujam

sarva-veda-mayo vipraḥ

sarva-deva-mayo hy aham

Translation

Even My own four-armed form is no dearer to Me than a brāhmaṇa. Within himself a learned brāhmaṇa comprises all the Vedas, just as within Myself I comprise all the demigods.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Holds Learned Brāhmaṇas Dear

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa says that even His own four-armed form is no dearer to Him than a brāhmaṇa. A learned brāhmaṇa comprises all the Vedas, just as Kṛṣṇa comprises all the demigods.

  2. 2

    Knowledge depends on a valid means of knowing. The Supreme Personality of Godhead can be known only through the Vedas.

  3. 3

    The brāhmaṇa sages are the Vedas personified and reveal the Lord in this world. Although Kṛṣṇa embodies all the demigods and viṣṇu-tattva expansions of Nārāyaṇa, He considers Himself obliged to these sages.

Key points from the purport
  • It is understood from the Vedic science of epistemology, the Nyāya-śāstra, that knowledge of an object (prameya) depends on a valid means of knowing (pramāṇa).
  • The Supreme Personality of Godhead can be known only by means of the Vedas, and thus He relies on the brāhmaṇa sages, who are the Vedas personified, to reveal Him in this world.
  • Even though Lord Kṛṣṇa embodies all the demigods and viṣṇu-tattva expansions of Nārāyaṇa, He considers Himself obliged to the brāhmaṇas.

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:

Pleased with the devotional attitude of both these great souls, Lord Kṛṣṇa went on His chariot to Mithilā to visit them, taking along Nārada and several other learned sages. The people of Mithilā greeted the Lord and His saintly entourage with great delight.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.86
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. brāhmaṇātthan a brāhmaṇa
  3. meto Me
  4. dayitammore dear
  5. rūpampersonal form
  6. etatthis
  7. catuḥ-bhujamfour-armed
  8. sarvaall
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 10.86

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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 Kṛṣṇa’s regard for learned brāhmaṇas deepen my respect for those who reveal Him through the Vedas?

Practice

Reread this verse slowly, noting why Kṛṣṇa values the brāhmaṇa sages.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Holds Learned Brāhmaṇas DearThis 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.

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