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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 ›
Canto 10 · Chapter 89: Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna Retrieve a Brāhmaṇa’s Sons
10.89.4610.89.48-49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.89.47

Sthāna· The universe in order
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 10.89.45inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सप्त द्वीपान् ससिन्धूंश्च सप्तसप्तगिरीनथ ।

लोकालोकं तथातीत्य विवेश सुमहत्तम: ॥ ४७ ॥

sapta dvīpān sa-sindhūṁś ca

sapta sapta girīn atha

lokālokaṁ tathātītya

viveśa su-mahat tamaḥ

Translation

The Lord’s chariot passed over the seven islands of the middle universe, each with its ocean and its seven principal mountains. Then it crossed the Lokāloka boundary and entered the vast region of total darkness.

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.

Beyond Sunlight Lies the Universe’s Dark Covering

  1. 1

    The Lord’s chariot crossed the seven islands, their oceans and principal mountains, and then the Lokāloka boundary.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa reached the covering of the universe, which is described as great darkness.

  3. 3

    The material world as a whole is described as dark. Sunlight illuminates open space, but the covering remains dark because sunlight is absent.

Key points from the purport
  • In Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrīla Prabhupāda notes: “Kṛṣṇa passed over all these planets and reached the covering of the universe.
  • This covering is described in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as great darkness.
  • In the open space there is sunlight, and therefore it is illuminated, but in the covering, because of the absence of sunlight, it is naturally dark.”

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:

Lord Kṛṣṇa then took Arjuna onto His transcendental chariot, and the two of them crossed over the seven universal islands with their seven oceans, passed over the Lokāloka mountain range and entered the region of dense darkness. Since the horses could not find their way, Kṛṣṇa sent His blazing Sudarśana disc ahead to pierce the gloom.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.89
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saptaseven
  2. dvīpānislands
  3. sawith
  4. sindhūntheir oceans
  5. caand
  6. sapta saptaseven each
  7. girīnmountains
  8. athathen
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 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

How does this description help me appreciate the scope of the Lord’s journey?

Practice

When you notice sunlight today, recall the purport’s distinction between illuminated space and the dark covering of the universe.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBeyond Sunlight Lies the Universe’s Dark CoveringThis 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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