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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
10.86.5810.87.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.86.59

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Śukasince 10.86.58inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एवं स्वभक्तयो राजन् भगवान् भक्तभक्तिमान् ।

उषित्वादिश्य सन्मार्गं पुनर्द्वारवतीमगात् ॥ ५९ ॥

evaṁ sva-bhaktayo rājan

bhagavān bhakta-bhaktimān

uṣitvādiśya san-mārgaṁ

punar dvāravatīm agāt

Translation

O King, thus the Personality of Godhead, who is devoted to His own devotees, stayed for some time with His two great devotees Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva, teaching them the behavior of perfect saints. Then the Lord returned to Dvārakā.

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.

Pure Devotion Matters More Than Birth

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is devoted to His devotees. He stayed with Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva, taught them the behavior of perfect saints, and then returned to Dvārakā.

  2. 2

    The Lord accepted both devotees on the same level because both were pure devotees. Birth alone does not establish a person’s qualification as a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya or vaiśya.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the highest perfection, through which everyone can become a Vaiṣṇava with all the qualifications of a brāhmaṇa. This training includes freedom from illicit sex, intoxicants, gambling and eating animal foodstuffs, as preliminary qualifications for pure devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • In his narration of this pastime in Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, His Divine Grace A.C.
  • Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda concludes: “The instruction we receive from this incident is that King Bahulāśva and Śrutadeva the brāhmaṇa were accepted by the Lord on the same level because both were pure devotees.
  • Because it has become the fashion of this age to become falsely proud of having taken birth in the family of a kṣatriya or a brāhmaṇa, we see persons without any qualification claiming to be brāhmaṇa or kṣatriya or vaiśya.

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:

Understanding these instructions, both Śrutadeva and Bahulāśva honored the sages and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa with single-minded devotion. Lord Kṛṣṇa then returned to Dvārakā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.86
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. svaHis
  3. bhaktayoḥwith the two devotees
  4. rājanO King (Parīkṣit)
  5. bhagavānthe Supreme Lord
  6. bhaktato His devotees
  7. bhakti-manwho is devoted
  8. uṣitvāstaying
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: “devotees”, “devotional service”

  • 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

Do I place greater value on birth and social standing, or on the qualities of pure devotion?

Practice

Choose one action of devotional service today, focusing on sincerity rather than recognition or status.

Live this todayPure Devotion Matters More Than BirthThis 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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