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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
10.89.54-5610.89.58

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.89.57

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

ववन्द आत्मानमनन्तमच्युतो

जिष्णुश्च तद्दर्शनजातसाध्वस: ।

तावाह भूमा परमेष्ठिनां प्रभु-

र्बद्धाञ्जली सस्मितमूर्जया गिरा ॥ ५७ ॥

vavanda ātmānam anantam acyuto

jiṣṇuś ca tad-darśana-jāta-sādhvasaḥ

tāv āha bhūmā parameṣṭhināṁ prabhur

beddhāñjalī sa-smitam ūrjayā girā

Translation

Lord Kṛṣṇa offered homage to Himself in this boundless form, and Arjuna, astonished at the sight of Lord Mahā-Viṣṇu, bowed down as well. Then, as the two of them stood before Him with joined palms, the almighty Mahā-Viṣṇu, supreme master of all rulers of the universe, smiled and spoke to them in a voice full of solemn authority.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Honors His Own Expansion

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa offered homage to Mahā-Viṣṇu, His own plenary expansion, to carry out His pastimes. This preserved the special sanctity of His humanlike pastimes.

  2. 2

    The Lord has countless manifestations, including this eight-armed form. Kṛṣṇa never falls from His position or stops engaging in His humanlike pastimes as a cowherd boy of Vṛndāvana.

  3. 3

    Mahā-Viṣṇu spoke with solemn authority according to Kṛṣṇa’s intention. His words subtly indicated that Kṛṣṇa is His source, supreme in beauty, character and power.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī makes the following observations on this verse: Just as Lord Kṛṣṇa offered obeisances to His own Deity during the worship of Govardhana Hill, so now also He paid homage to His Viṣṇu expansion for the purpose of playing out His pastimes.
  • Thus to safeguard the special sanctity of His humanlike pastimes as Kṛṣṇa, He offered obeisances to His own plenary expansion.
  • Lord Mahā-Viṣṇu appeared before Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna as bhūmā, the supremely opulent one, and as parameṣṭhināṁ prabhuḥ, the Lord of multitudes of Brahmās ruling over millions of universes.

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. vavandapaid homage
  2. ātmānamto Himself
  3. anantamin His boundless form
  4. acyutaḥinfallible Lord Kṛṣṇa
  5. jiṣṇuḥArjuna
  6. caalso
  7. tatof Him
  8. darśanaby the sight
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.89

    In this verse: “rulers”

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

Why should I avoid mistaking Kṛṣṇa’s respectful behavior for a loss of His supreme position?

Practice

Offer a respectful bow to Kṛṣṇa, remembering that His humanlike pastimes do not diminish His supremacy.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 10.89's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Honors His Own ExpansionThis 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 10.89.57? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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