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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 88: Lord Śiva Saved from Vṛkāsura
10.87.5010.88.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.88.1

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Parīkṣitsince 10.88.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीराजोवाच

देवासुरमनुष्येषु ये भजन्त्यशिवं शिवम् ।

प्रायस्ते धनिनो भोजा न तु लक्ष्म्या: पतिं हरिम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-rājovāca

devāsura-manuṣyesu

ye bhajanty aśivaṁ śivam

prāyas te dhanino bhojā

na tu lakṣmyāḥ patiṁ harim

Translation

King Parīkṣit said: Those demigods, demons and humans who worship Lord Śiva, a strict renunciant, usually enjoy wealth and sense gratification, while the worshipers of the Supreme Lord Hari, the husband of the goddess of fortune, do not.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

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.

Wealth Does Not Simply Reflect Worship

  1. 1

    King Parīkṣit observes that worshipers of Lord Śiva usually enjoy wealth and sense gratification.

  2. 2

    Lord Śiva himself is a strict renunciant, although his worshipers often enjoy material comforts.

  3. 3

    Worshipers of the Supreme Lord Hari do not usually enjoy such wealth, although He is the husband of the goddess of fortune.

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 88: Lord Śiva Saved from Vṛkāsura

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When Mahārāja Parīkṣit asked Śukadeva Gosvāmī to explain this puzzling fact, the sage replied as follows: “Lord Śiva manifests as false ego in three varieties, according to the three modes of nature. From this false ego arise the five physical elements and the other transformations of material nature, totaling sixteen.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.88
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-rājā uvācathe King (Parīkṣit) said
  2. devaamong demigods
  3. asurademons
  4. manuṣyeṣuand humans
  5. yewho
  6. bhajantiworship
  7. aśivamaustere
  8. śivamLord Śiva
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.88

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “wealth”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.88

    In this verse: “worship”, “worshipers”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.88

    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 expect worship to bring material comfort?

Practice

Read the verse again and notice the word “usually,” which keeps this observation from being an absolute rule.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWealth Does Not Simply Reflect WorshipThis 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 10.88.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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