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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 90: Summary of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Glories
10.90.2310.90.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.90.24

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The queenssince 10.90.15inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

हंस स्वागतमास्यतां पिब पयो ब्रूह्यङ्ग शौरे: कथां

दूतं त्वां नु विदाम कच्चिदजित: स्वस्त्यास्त उक्तं पुरा ।

किं वा नश्चलसौहृद: स्मरति तं कस्माद् भजामो वयं

क्षौद्रालापय कामदं श्रियमृते सैवैकनिष्ठा स्‍त्रियाम् ॥ २४ ॥

haṁsa svāgatam āsyatāṁ piba payo brūhy aṅga śaureḥ kathāṁ

dūtaṁ tvāṁ nu vidāma kaccid ajitaḥ svasty āsta uktaṁ purā

kiṁ vā naś cala-sauhṛdaḥ smarati taṁ kasmād bhajāmo vayaṁ

kṣaudrālāpaya kāma-daṁ śriyam ṛte saivaika-niṣṭhā striyām

Translation

Welcome, swan. Please sit here and drink some milk. Give us some news of the descendant of Śūra, dear one. We know you are His messenger. Is that invincible Lord doing well, and does that unreliable friend of ours still remember the words He spoke to us long ago? Why should we go and worship Him? O servant of a petty master, go tell Him who fulfills our desires to come here without the goddess of fortune. Is she the only woman exclusively devoted to Him?

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.

Loving Appeals for Kṛṣṇa’s Presence

  1. 1

    The queens welcome the swan with a seat and milk, recognizing it as Kṛṣṇa’s messenger. They eagerly ask about His welfare and whether He remembers His loving words.

  2. 2

    In the purport’s conversation, the swan urges them to go to Kṛṣṇa and engage in His devotional service. The queens instead insist that He come to them.

  3. 3

    They ask Him to come without the goddess of fortune, who, they say, keeps Him to herself. When the swan speaks of Lakṣmī’s exclusive devotion, the queens affirm their own complete devotion to Him.

Key points from the purport
  • The queens ask, “Is the unconquerable Lord doing well?”
  • The swan replies, “How can Lord Kṛṣṇa be doing well without you, His beloved consorts?”
  • Ask Him to come to us here, but without the goddess of fortune, who always cheats us by keeping Him all to herself.”

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 90: Summary of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Glories

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

With His graceful gestures, loving words and sidelong glances, He would enchant their hearts. In this way the queens would become totally absorbed in thoughts of Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.90
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. haṁsaO swan
  2. su-āgatamwelcome
  3. āsyatāmplease come and sit down
  4. pibaplease drink
  5. payaḥmilk
  6. brūhitell us
  7. aṅgadear one
  8. śaureḥof Śauri
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 10.90

    In this verse: “worship”, “devotional service”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 10.90

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 10.90

    In this verse: “welfare”

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 do the queens’ complaints also reveal their complete devotion to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Read the swan’s invitation to engage in devotional service, and set aside one minute today for attentive remembrance of Kṛṣṇa.

5

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 10.90's connections

Live this todayLoving Appeals for Kṛṣṇa’s PresenceThis 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 10.90.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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