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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.
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Canto 10 · Chapter 89: Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna Retrieve a Brāhmaṇa’s Sons
10.89.5010.89.52

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.89.51

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 10.89.45inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

द्वारेण चक्रानुपथेन तत्तम:

परं परं ज्योतिरनन्तपारम् ।

समश्न‍ुवानं प्रसमीक्ष्य फाल्गुन:

प्रताडिताक्षो पिदधेऽक्षिणी उभे ॥ ५१ ॥

dvāreṇa cakrānupathena tat tamaḥ

paraṁ paraṁ jyotir ananta-pāram

samaśnuvānaṁ prasamīkṣya phālgunaḥ

pratāḍitākṣo pidadhe ’kṣiṇī ubhe

Translation

Following the Sudarśana disc, the chariot went beyond the darkness and reached the endless spiritual light of the all pervasive brahmajyoti. As Arjuna beheld this glaring effulgence, his eyes hurt, and so he shut them.

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 Spiritual Light Is Kṛṣṇa’s Own Effulgence

  1. 1

    The Sudarśana disc led Kṛṣṇa’s chariot through the eight shells of the universe into the limitless, self-effulgent spiritual sky.

  2. 2

    The glaring brahmajyoti hurt Arjuna’s eyes, so he closed them. Kṛṣṇa explains that this spiritual light is His own eternal effulgence.

  3. 3

    This effulgence is Kṛṣṇa’s eternal spiritual energy, which the foremost yoga experts enter to become liberated. It is not independent of Him.

Key points from the purport
  • After breaking through each of the eight concentric shells of the universe, the Sudarśana disc led Lord Kṛṣṇa’s chariot into the limitless, self-effulgent atmosphere of the spiritual sky.
  • This journey by Lord Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna to Vaikuṇṭha is also narrated in Śrī Hari-vaṁśa, where the Lord is quoted as telling His companion:
  • You should understand this brahma-jyoti, O Bhārata, to be My concentrated personal effulgence.”

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. dvāreṇaby the path
  2. cakrathe Sudarśana disc
  3. anupathenafollowing
  4. tatthat
  5. tamaḥdarkness
  6. parambeyond
  7. paramtranscendental
  8. jyotiḥlight
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

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 knowing that the spiritual light comes from Kṛṣṇa shape my understanding of Him?

Practice

Read Kṛṣṇa’s words, “It is My own eternal effulgence,” slowly, and pause to remember Him as its source.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Spiritual Light Is Kṛṣṇa’s Own EffulgenceThis 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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