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

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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.90.50

Who is speaking and story frame

मर्त्यस्तयानुसवमेधितया मुकुन्द-

श्रीमत्कथाश्रवणकीर्तनचिन्तयैति ।

तद्धाम दुस्तरकृतान्तजवापवर्गं

ग्रामाद् वनं क्षितिभुजोऽपि ययुर्यदर्था: ॥ ५० ॥

martyas tayānusavam edhitayā mukunda

śrīmat-kathā-śravaṇa-kīrtana-cintayaiti

tad dhāma dustara-kṛtānta-javāpavargaṁ

grāmād vanaṁ kṣiti-bhujo ’pi yayur yad-arthāḥ

Translation

By regularly hearing, chanting and meditating on the beautiful topics of Lord Mukunda with ever-increasing sincerity, a mortal being will attain the divine kingdom of the Lord, where the inviolable power of death holds no sway. For this purpose, many persons, including great kings, abandoned their mundane homes and took to the forest.

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.

Hearing Leads to Faith and Eternal Service

  1. 1

    This verse promises success to one who hears the Tenth Canto. Devotional service begins with hearing topics about the Supreme Lord.

  2. 2

    After hearing properly, one can chant these topics for others’ benefit and reflect on their significance. This leads to faithful adherence to devotional service, culminating in absolute faith in Lord Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    Perfect faith gives one the right to enter the Lord’s intimate service and eventually return to eternal, spiritual life in His personal domains. There, the power of death holds no sway.

Key points from the purport
  • The process of devotional service begins with hearing topics about the Supreme Lord.
  • Humbly offering his comments on the Tenth Canto at the lotus feet of his worshipable Lord, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī prays:
  • Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Ninetieth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Summary of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Glories.”

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:

While resting, eating, walking and so on, which they often did in His company, they would forget their own bodies in their transcendental happiness. The Tenth Canto concludes with this promise of success for the sincere hearer: “By regularly hearing, chanting and meditating on the beautiful topics of Lord Mukunda with ever-increasing sincerity, a mortal being will attain the divine kingdom of the Lord, where the inviolable power of death holds no sway.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.90
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. martyaḥa mortal
  2. tayāby such
  3. anusavamconstantly
  4. edhitayāincreasing
  5. mukundaabout Lord Kṛṣṇa
  6. śrīmatbeautiful
  7. kathāof the topics
  8. śravaṇaby hearing
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 10.90

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”, “chant”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.90

    In this verse: “death”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 10.90

    In this verse: “kingdom”

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 I bring greater sincerity to hearing, chanting and reflecting on topics of Lord Mukunda?

Practice

Read a short passage about Lord Mukunda aloud today, then pause to reflect on how it encourages faithful devotional service.

Live this todayHearing Leads to Faith and Eternal ServiceThis 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 10.90.50? Get an answer from the verses themselves.