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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
10.89.14-1710.89.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.89.18

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.89.12inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

त्रिविधाकृतयस्तस्य राक्षसा असुरा: सुरा: ।

गुणिन्या मायया सृष्टा: सत्त्वं तत्तीर्थसाधनम् ॥ १८ ॥

tri-vidhākṛtayas tasya

rākṣasā asurāḥ surāḥ

guṇinyā māyayā sṛṣṭāḥ

sattvaṁ tat tīrtha-sādhanam

Translation

The Lord expands into three kinds of manifest beings — the Rākṣasas, the demons and the demigods — all of whom are created by the Lord’s material energy and conditioned by her modes. But among these three modes, it is the mode of goodness which is the means of attaining life’s final success.

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.

Goodness Supports Life’s Final Success

  1. 1

    Material nature creates different classes of beings under the direction of the Supreme Lord. They are conditioned by her modes.

  2. 2

    Those in ignorance are called Rākṣasas, those in passion are demons, and those in goodness are demigods.

  3. 3

    Those in the mode of goodness have a greater chance to reach the spiritual world. The verse presents goodness as a means toward life’s final success.

Key points from the purport
  • In Kṛṣṇa Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “There are different kinds of people existing in the modes of material nature.
  • Those who are in the mode of ignorance are called rākṣasas, those in the mode of passion are called asuras [demons], and those in the mode of goodness are called suras, or demigods.
  • Under the direction of the Supreme Lord, these three classes of men are created by material nature, but those who are in the mode of goodness have a greater chance to be elevated to the spiritual world, back home, back to Godhead.”

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. tri-vidhaof three kinds
  2. ākṛtayaḥforms
  3. tasyaof His
  4. rākṣasāḥthe ignorant spirits
  5. asurāḥthe demons
  6. surāḥand the demigods
  7. guṇinyāḥqualified by the material modes
  8. māyayāby His material energy
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 10.89

    In this verse: “material”

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 see goodness as a means of returning to Godhead, rather than merely living comfortably?

Practice

Read the translation once slowly, keeping its final spiritual destination in mind.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGoodness Supports Life’s Final SuccessThis 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 10.89.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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