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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 87: The Prayers of the Personified Vedas
10.87.3110.87.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.87.32

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The śrutissince 10.87.14inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārāyaṇa Ṛṣi → Nārada MuniSanandana Kumāra → the sages of JanalokaThe personified Vedas → the Supreme Lord

नृषु तव मयया भ्रमममीष्ववगत्य भृशं

त्वयि सुधियोऽभवे दधति भावमनुप्रभवम् ।

कथमनुवर्ततां भवभयं तव यद् भ्रुकुटि:

सृजति मुहुस्‍त्रिनेमिरभवच्छरणेषु भयम् ॥ ३२ ॥

nṛṣu tava mayayā bhramam amīṣv avagatya bhṛśaṁ

tvayi su-dhiyo ’bhave dadhati bhāvam anuprabhavam

katham anuvartatāṁ bhava-bhayaṁ tava yad bhru-kuṭiḥ

sṛjati muhus tri-nemir abhavac-charaṇeṣu bhayam

Translation

The wise souls who understand how Your Māyā deludes all human beings render potent loving service to You, who are the source of liberation from birth and death. How, indeed, can fear of material life affect Your faithful servants? On the other hand, Your furrowing eyebrows — the triple-rimmed wheel of time — repeatedly terrify those who refuse to take shelter of You.

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.

Loving Service Leads Beyond Fear

  1. 1

    Material illusion rests on a false sense of independence from the Lord. The Vedas reveal their most cherished secret—devotional service to the Personality of Godhead—to those who are tired of this illusion.

  2. 2

    Vaiṣṇavas prefer worship to prolonged, fruitless philosophical quarrels. They understand Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and themselves as His eternal servants; loving devotional service is their goal.

  3. 3

    Time creates fear for those who have not taken shelter of the Supreme Lord. By His grace, surrendered devotees cross beyond Māyā and enjoy loving reciprocations with Him.

Key points from the purport
  • The Vedas reveal their most cherished secret — devotional service to the Personality of Godhead — only to those who are tired of material illusion, which is based on a false sense of independence from the Lord.
  • The personified Vedas here answer that there is no chance of material illusion continuing to act on devotees of the Lord because even in the earliest stages of devotional service all fear and attachment are removed by the Lord’s grace.
  • When he earns liberation by cultivating devotion to the Lord, however, he comes completely under the shelter of the Lord’s internal potency, and at that time he is no longer tainted by the modes of material nature.

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 10.87.32 quotesBG 7.14

Furthermore, in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.14) the Lord says: “This divine energy of Mine consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome.

The purport of SB 10.87.32 quotesBG 14.26

Lord Kṛṣṇa confirms this in Bhagavad-gītā (14.26): “One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.”

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

Awe → Reverent fulfillment. The canto closes with theological wonder.

Chapters 87–90 of Canto 10: The Vedas praise and the Lord's glories conclude. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 87: The Prayers of the Personified Vedas

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Sanandana told them how the numerous personified Vedas, appearing as the first emanations from the breathing of Lord Nārāyaṇa, recited prayers for His glorification just before the creation. Sanandana then proceeded to recite these elaborate prayers.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.87
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nṛṣuamong humans
  2. tavaYour
  3. māyayāby the illusory energy
  4. bhramambewilderment
  5. amīṣuamong these
  6. avagatyaunderstanding
  7. bhṛśamfervent
  8. tvayiunto You
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.87

    In this verse: “māyā”, “material”, “illusion”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.87

    In this verse: “fear”, “death”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.87

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”, “worship”

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

When fear arises, how can I turn toward loving service rather than trying to remain independent of the Lord?

Practice

Today, offer this brief prayer: “O Acyuta, wherever I may be, may my devotion to You remain firmly fixed.”

Live this todayLoving Service Leads Beyond FearThis 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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