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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.88.27-28

Who is speaking and story frame

तं तथाव्यसनं द‍ृष्ट्वा भगवान् वृजिनार्दन: ।

दूरात् प्रत्युदियाद् भूत्वा बटुको योगमायया ॥ २७ ॥

मेखलाजिनदण्डाक्षैस्तेजसाग्निरिव ज्वलन् ।

अभिवादयामास च तं कुशपाणिर्विनीतवत् ॥ २८ ॥

taṁ tathā vyasanaṁ dṛṣṭvā

bhagavān vṛjinārdanaḥ

dūrāt pratyudiyād bhūtvā

baṭuko yoga-māyayā

mekhalājina-daṇḍākṣais

tejasāgnir iva jvalan

abhivādayām āsa ca taṁ

kuśa-pāṇir vinīta-vat

Translation

The Supreme Lord, who relieves His devotees’ distress, had seen from afar that Lord Śiva was in danger. Thus by His mystic Yoga-māyā potency He assumed the form of a brahmacārī student, with the appropriate belt, deerskin, rod and prayer beads, and came before Vṛkāsura. The Lord’s effulgence glowed brilliantly like fire. Holding kuśa grass in His hand, He humbly greeted the demon.

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.

Divine Protection Comes With Humility

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord relieves His devotees’ distress. Seeing Lord Śiva’s danger from afar, He approached Vṛkāsura.

  2. 2

    By His Yoga-māyā potency, He assumed the form of a brahmacārī student. Though His effulgence glowed like fire, He greeted the demon humbly.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that the disguised Lord spoke of all created beings as worthy of respect. He also honored Vṛkāsura as the son of Śakuni, a wise man who performed great austerities.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī quotes the disguised Lord Nārāyaṇa as saying, “For Us seers of the Absolute Truth, all created beings are worthy of respect.
  • And since you are the son of Śakuni, a wise man and performer of great austerities, you certainly deserve the respectful greeting of a young brahmacārī like Myself.”

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 88: Lord Śiva Saved from Vṛkāsura

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Seeing the desperate Śiva from afar, the Lord disguised Himself as a young student and went before Vṛkāsura. In a sweet voice he addressed the demon: “My dear Vṛka, please rest awhile and tell Us what you intend to do.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.88
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamthat
  2. tathāthus
  3. vyasanamdanger
  4. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  5. bhagavānthe Supreme Lord
  6. vṛjinaof distress
  7. ardanaḥthe eradicator
  8. dūrātfrom a distance
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees’”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.88

    In this verse: “distress”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.88

    In this verse: “danger”

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 can I show respect without approving of someone’s harmful behavior?

Practice

Offer a courteous greeting today to someone you find difficult to respect.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDivine Protection Comes With HumilityThis 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 10.88.27-28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.