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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
10.88.1110.88.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.88.12

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.88.12inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

शापप्रसादयोरीशा ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादय: ।

सद्य:शापप्रसादोऽङ्ग शिवो ब्रह्मा न चाच्युत: ॥ १२ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

śāpa-prasādayor īśā

brahma-viṣṇu-śivādayaḥ

sadyaḥ śāpa-prasādo ’ṅga

śivo brahmā na cācyutaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Śiva and others are able to curse or bless one. Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā are very quick to curse or bestow benedictions, my dear King, but the infallible Supreme Lord is 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.

The Supreme Lord Is Not Hasty

  1. 1

    Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Śiva and others are able to curse or bless.

  2. 2

    Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā are very quick to curse or bestow benedictions.

  3. 3

    The infallible Supreme Lord does not act with that same quickness. A swift response alone is not the measure of divine favor.

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:

Lord Brahmā, Lord Viṣṇu and Lord Śiva can each bestow or withhold favors, but whereas Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva are satisfied or angered very quickly, Lord Viṣṇu is not. In this regard the Vedic literature relates the following account: Once the demon Vṛka asked Nārada which god was most quickly pleased, and Nārada answered that Lord Śiva was.
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-śukaḥ uvācaŚukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. śāpain cursing
  3. prasādayoḥand showing favor
  4. īśāḥcapable
  5. brahma-viṣṇu-śiva-ādayaḥBrahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva and others
  6. sadyaḥquick
  7. śāpa-prasādaḥwhose curse and benediction
  8. aṅgamy dear (King Parīkṣit)
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 10.88

    In this verse: “bless”, “favor”

  • 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

How does this distinction help me remain patient when worship does not bring immediate results?

Practice

When you feel impatient today, pause and recall that the infallible Supreme Lord is not hasty.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Is Not HastyThis 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 10.88.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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