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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
10.89.6-710.89.10-11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.89.8-9

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 10.89.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

शयानं श्रिय उत्सङ्गे पदा वक्षस्यताडयत् ।

तत उत्थाय भगवान् सह लक्ष्म्या सतां गति: ॥ ८ ॥

स्वतल्पादवरुह्याथ ननाम शिरसा मुनिम् ।

आह ते स्वागतं ब्रह्मन् निषीदात्रासने क्षणम् ।

अजानतामागतान् व: क्षन्तुमर्हथ न: प्रभो ॥ ९ ॥

śayānaṁ śriya utsaṅge

padā vakṣasy atāḍayat

tata utthāya bhagavān

saha lakṣmyā satāṁ gatiḥ

sva-talpād avaruhyātha

nanāma śirasā munim

āha te svāgataṁ brahman

niṣīdātrāsane kṣaṇam

ajānatām āgatān vaḥ

kṣantum arhatha naḥ prabho

Translation

There he went up to the Supreme Lord, who was lying with His head on the lap of His consort, Śrī, and kicked Him on the chest. The Lord then rose, along with Goddess Lakṣmī, as a sign of respect. Coming down from His bedstead, that supreme goal of all pure devotees bowed His head to the floor before the sage and told him, ‘Welcome, brāhmaṇa. Please sit in this chair and rest awhile. Kindly forgive us, dear master, for not noticing your arrival.’

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 Supreme Lord Responds With Mercy

  1. 1

    Bhṛgu kicked the resting Supreme Lord on the chest, committing a grave offense. Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that he had not yet become a pure Vaiṣṇava.

  2. 2

    Lord Viṣṇu, who is all-merciful, did not become angry. He rose with Lakṣmī, bowed before the sage and welcomed him.

  3. 3

    The Lord is the supreme goal of all pure devotees. By excusing Bhṛgu, a great brāhmaṇa, He set an example of forgiveness, though Lakṣmī was displeased by the offense.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, at the time of this pastime Bhṛgu Muni had not yet become a pure Vaiṣṇava; otherwise he would not have acted so rashly toward the Supreme Lord.
  • Not only was Lord Viṣṇu taking rest, but He was lying with His head in His wife’s lap.
  • Yet it is said that from the time of this incident the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, has not been very favorably disposed toward the brāhmaṇas, and therefore because the goddess of fortune withholds her benedictions from them, the brāhmaṇas are generally very poor.”

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:

Kindly forgive us, dear master, for not noticing your arrival.” When Bhṛgu went back to the assembly of sages and told them all that had happened, they concluded that Lord Viṣṇu is certainly supreme.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.89
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śayānamwho was lying down
  2. śriyaḥof the goddess of fortune
  3. utsaṅgeon the lap
  4. padāwith his foot
  5. vakṣasion His chest
  6. atāḍayathe kicked
  7. tataḥthen
  8. utthāyastanding up
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.89

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “kindly”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 10.89

    In this verse: “offense”

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 the Lord’s merciful response deepen my desire to serve Him?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute remembering the Lord’s mercy and expressing your desire to serve Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Responds With MercyThis 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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