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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 89: Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna Retrieve a Brāhmaṇa’s Sons
10.88.4010.89.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.89.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.89.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

सरस्वत्यास्तटे राजन्नृषय: सत्रमासत ।

वितर्क: समभूत्तेषां त्रिष्वधीशेषु को महान् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

sarasvatyās taṭe rājann

ṛṣayaḥ satram āsata

vitarkaḥ samabhūt teṣāṁ

triṣv adhīśeṣu ko mahān

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Once, O King, as a group of sages were performing a Vedic sacrifice on the banks of the Sarasvatī River, a controversy arose among them as to which of the three chief deities is supreme.

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.

The Sages Question Who Is Supreme

  1. 1

    A group of sages were performing a Vedic sacrifice on the banks of the Sarasvatī River.

  2. 2

    A disagreement arose among them about which of the three chief deities is supreme.

  3. 3

    The three deities under discussion were Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva.

Key points from the purport
  • The three chief deities mentioned here are Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva.

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 89: Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna Retrieve a Brāhmaṇa’s Sons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Once, long ago, on the shore of the river Sarasvatī, a discussion arose among a group of sages as to which of the three chief lords — Brahmā, Viṣṇu or Śiva — is the greatest. They deputed Bhṛgu Muni to investigate the matter.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.89
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. sarasvatyāḥof the river Sarasvatī
  3. taṭeon the bank
  4. rājanO King (Parīkṣit)
  5. ṛṣayaḥsages
  6. satrama Vedic sacrifice
  7. āsatawere performing
  8. vitarkaḥa disagreement
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.89

    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 do I respond when a spiritual question needs clarification?

Practice

Write down one spiritual question you would like to understand more clearly.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Sages Question Who Is SupremeThis 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 10.89.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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