1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 chapters

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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.89.54-56

Who is speaking and story frame

ददर्श तद्भ‍ोगसुखासनं विभुं

महानुभावं पुरुषोत्तमोत्तमम् ।

सान्द्राम्बुदाभं सुपिशङ्गवाससं

प्रसन्नवक्त्रं रुचिरायतेक्षणम् ॥ ५४ ॥

महामणिव्रातकिरीटकुण्डल-

प्रभापरिक्षिप्तसहस्रकुन्तलम् ।

प्रलम्बचार्वष्टभुजं सकौस्तुभं

श्रीवत्सलक्ष्मं वनमालया वृतम् ॥ ५५ ॥

सुनन्दनन्दप्रमुखै: स्वपार्षदै-

श्चक्रादिभिर्मूर्तिधरैर्निजायुधै: ।

पुष्‍ट्या श्रिया कीर्त्यजयाखिलर्धिभि-

र्निषेव्यमानं परमेष्ठिनां पतिम् ॥ ५६ ॥

dadarśa tad-bhoga-sukhāsanaṁ vibhuṁ

mahānubhāvaṁ puruṣottamottamam

sāndrāmbudābhaṁ su-piśaṅga-vāsasaṁ

prasanna-vaktraṁ rucirāyatekṣaṇam

mahā-maṇi-vrāta-kirīṭa-kuṇḍala

prabhā-parikṣipta-sahasra-kuntalam

pralamba-cārv-aṣṭa-bhujaṁ sa-kaustubhaṁ

śrīvatsa-lakṣmaṁ vana-mālayāvṛtam

sunanda-nanda-pramukhaiḥ sva-pārṣadaiś

cakrādibhir mūrti-dharair nijāyudhaiḥ

puṣṭyā śrīyā kīrty-ajayākhilardhibhir

niṣevyamānaṁ parameṣṭhināṁ patim

Translation

Arjuna then saw the omnipresent and omnipotent Supreme Personality of Godhead, Mahā-Viṣṇu, sitting at ease on the serpent bed. His bluish complexion was the color of a dense rain cloud, He wore a beautiful yellow garment, His face looked charming, His broad eyes were most attractive, and He had eight long, handsome arms. His profuse locks of hair were bathed on all sides in the brilliance reflected from the clusters of precious jewels decorating His crown and earrings. He wore the Kaustubha gem, the mark of Śrīvatsa and a garland of forest flowers. Serving that topmost of all Lords were His personal attendants, headed by Sunanda and Nanda; His cakra and other weapons in their personified forms; His consort potencies Puṣṭi, Śrī, Kīrti and Ajā; and all His various mystic powers.

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 Lord’s Energies Serve Him

  1. 1

    Arjuna saw Mahā-Viṣṇu, the omnipresent and omnipotent Supreme Personality of Godhead, sitting at ease on the serpent bed. His beautiful form was adorned with precious jewels and a garland of forest flowers.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s innumerable energies stood there personified. Among them were Puṣṭi, nourishment; Śrī, beauty; Kīrti, reputation; and Ajā, material creation.

  3. 3

    The administrators of the material world receive their energies from the Lord. Empowered by Him, they engage in His transcendental loving service.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Prabhupāda mentions that “the Lord has innumerable energies, and they were also standing there personified.
  • The most important among them were as follows: Puṣṭi, the energy for nourishment; Śrī, the energy of beauty; Kīrti, the energy of reputation; and Ajā, the energy of material creation.
  • In other words, all these demigods, being empowered by the Lord with certain energies, engage in the transcendental loving service of the Supreme Personality of 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:

There they saw the thousand-hooded serpent Ananta and upon Him lay Mahā-Viṣṇu. The great Lord greeted Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, saying “I brought the brāhmaṇa’s sons here simply because I wanted to see the two of you.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.89
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dadarśa(Arjuna) saw
  2. tatthat
  3. bhogaserpent
  4. sukhacomfortable
  5. āsanamwhose seat
  6. vibhumall-pervasive
  7. mahā-anubhāvamalmighty
  8. puruṣa-uttamaof Personalities of Godhead
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.89

    In this verse: “nanda”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.89

    In this verse: “administrators”

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 can remembering that energies come from the Lord encourage me to serve Him?

Practice

Choose one ability you have and use it today for one small act of devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Energies Serve HimThis 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 10.89.54-56? Get an answer from the verses themselves.