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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
10.86.710.86.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.86.8

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.86.2-3inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तां परं समनुध्यायन्नन्तरं प्रेप्सुरर्जुन: ।

न लेभे शं भ्रमच्चित्त: कामेनातिबलीयसा ॥ ८ ॥

tāṁ paraṁ samanudhyāyann

antaraṁ prepsur arjunaḥ

na lebhe śaṁ bhramac-cittaḥ

kāmenāti-balīyasā

Translation

Meditating only on her and waiting for the opportunity to take her away, Arjuna had no peace. His heart trembled with passionate desire.

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.

The Supreme Lord Arranges His Pastimes

  1. 1

    Arjuna thought only of Subhadrā and waited for an opportunity to take her away. His passionate desire left him without peace.

  2. 2

    Even while Lord Balarāma honored him, Arjuna was too distracted to appreciate His gracious hospitality.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that both Arjuna’s distraction and Lord Balarāma’s failure to recognize him were arrangements of the Supreme Lord for His transcendental pastimes.

Key points from the purport
  • Even while being honored by Lord Balarāma, Arjuna was too distracted to appreciate the Lord’s gracious hospitality.
  • Arjuna’s distraction and Lord Balarāma’s failure to recognize Arjuna in his disguise were both arrangements of the Supreme Lord to enjoy His transcendental pastimes.

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:

There he caught sight of Subhadrā and was immediately overwhelmed with desire for her. Subhadrā also desired to have Arjuna as her husband, and thus she glanced back at him shyly.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.86
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tāmon her
  2. paramonly
  3. samanudhyāyanmeditating
  4. antaramthe right opportunity
  5. prepsuḥwaiting to obtain
  6. arjunaḥArjuna
  7. na lebhecould not experience
  8. śampeace
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

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 purport deepen your understanding beyond Arjuna’s outward restlessness?

Practice

Read the purport slowly once today, giving undivided attention to the Supreme Lord’s pastimes.

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Arranges His PastimesThis 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 10.86.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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