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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 87: The Prayers of the Personified Vedas
10.87.810.87.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.87.9

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Personality of Godheadsince 10.87.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārāyaṇa Ṛṣi → Nārada Muni

श्रीभगवानुवाच

स्वायम्भुव ब्रह्मसत्रं जनलोकेऽभवत् पुरा ।

तत्रस्थानां मानसानां मुनीनामूर्ध्वरेतसाम् ॥ ९ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

svāyambhuva brahma-satraṁ

jana-loke ’bhavat purā

tatra-sthānāṁ mānasānāṁ

munīnām ūrdhva-retasām

Translation

The Personality of Godhead said: O son of self-born Brahmā, once long ago on Janaloka, wise sages who resided there performed a great sacrifice to the Absolute Truth by vibrating transcendental sounds. These sages, mental sons of Brahmā, were all perfect celibates.

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.

Transcendental Sound as Sacrifice

  1. 1

    The wise sages of Janaloka performed a great sacrifice to the Absolute Truth by vibrating transcendental sounds.

  2. 2

    These sages were mental sons of Brahmā and were all perfect celibates.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that all participants in this sacrifice were equally qualified to serve as priests. Each could speak equally well about Brahman.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that the word satram here refers to a Vedic sacrifice in which all the participants are equally qualified to serve as priests.
  • In this instance, each of the sages present in Janaloka could speak equally well on the topic of Brahman.

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

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:

In reply, Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi related an account of how this very question had been discussed long ago among the great sages living on Janaloka. Once these sages, feeling inquisitive about the nature of the Absolute Truth, chose Sanandana Kumāra to speak on the subject.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.87
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Lord said
  2. svāyambhuvaO son of self-born Brahmā
  3. brahmaperformed by the utterance of transcendental sound
  4. satrama sacrifice
  5. jana-lokeon the planet Janaloka
  6. abhavatoccurred
  7. purāin the past
  8. tatrathere
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 10.87

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

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 might I approach sacred sound as an offering rather than ordinary speech?

Practice

Read the translation aloud slowly today, with a respectful intention to honor the Absolute Truth.

Live this todayTranscendental Sound as SacrificeThis 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 10.87.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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