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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 89: Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna Retrieve a Brāhmaṇa’s Sons
10.89.2810.89.30-31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.89.29

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The brāhmaṇasince 10.89.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अहं प्रजा: वां भगवन् रक्षिष्ये दीनयोरिह ।

अनिस्तीर्णप्रतिज्ञोऽग्निं प्रवेक्ष्ये हतकल्मष: ॥ २९ ॥

ahaṁ prajāḥ vāṁ bhagavan

rakṣiṣye dīnayor iha

anistīrṇa-pratijño ’gniṁ

pravekṣye hata-kalmaṣaḥ

Translation

“My lord, I will protect the progeny of you and your wife, who are in such distress. And if I fail to keep this promise, I will enter fire to atone for my sin.”

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.

Arjuna Takes His Promise Seriously

  1. 1

    Arjuna promises to protect the children of the distressed brāhmaṇa and his wife.

  2. 2

    He declares that he will enter fire if he fails. The purport explains that chivalrous Arjuna could not tolerate the shame of breaking his promise.

  3. 3

    The purport quotes Kṛṣṇa’s teaching that, for a respected person, dishonor is worse than death.

Key points from the purport
  • Chivalrous Arjuna could not tolerate the shame of being unable to fulfill his promise.
  • As Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (2.34), sambhāvitasya cākīrtir maraṇād atiricyate: “For a respected person, dishonor is worse than death.”

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 10.89.29 quotesBG 2.34

As Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (2.34), sambhāvitasya cākīrtir maraṇād atiricyate: “For a respected person, dishonor is worse than death.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

And if I fail, I will enter fire to atone for my sin.” Some time later, the brāhmaṇa’s wife was about to give birth for the tenth time.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.89
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ahamI
  2. prajāḥthe offspring
  3. vāmof you two (you and your wife)
  4. bhagavanO lord
  5. rakṣiṣyewill protect
  6. dīnayoḥwho are wretched
  7. ihain this matter
  8. anistīrṇafailing to fulfill
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.89

    In this verse: “distress”, “distressed”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 10.89

    In this verse: “protect”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.89

    In this verse: “death”

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 carefully do I consider my ability to fulfill a promise before making it?

Practice

Review one promise you have made and take one safe, practical step toward fulfilling it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayArjuna Takes His Promise SeriouslyThis 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.

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