Canto 2: The Cosmic Manifestation
SB2.3

Canto 2 · Chapter 3 · 25 verses · 1 story

Pure Devotional Service: The Change in Heart

Everyone should worship the Supreme Lord and engage the senses in devotion that changes the heart.

Read on Vedabase
Themes of SB 2.3Kīrtana5Bhakti5Jñāna4Vairāgya4from its story phase
Connected storiesKing RahūgaṇaPurūravā and UrvaśīAditiGovardhana Hill
Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitEvery voice in this chapter ›

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

In this chapter

Who · Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Mahārāja Parīkṣit, Śrīla Dvaipāyana Vyāsadeva

The story · Śukadeva Gosvāmī explains that he studied Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from his father, Śrīla Dvaipāyana Vyāsadeva, at the end of Dvāpara-yuga. He answers Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s inquiry about the duty of an intelligent person approaching death. His instructions describe self-control and meditation on the Lord’s universal form and His form within the heart. He teaches that everyone, whatever their desires, should worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

What it teaches · Even a moment of full consciousness can begin the search for one’s supreme interest. Worship of the Supreme Lord is the path for those with material desires, those without them, and those seeking liberation.

SB 2.1.8SB 2.3.1SB 2.3.10Read chapter 1 ›

Beyond this chapter

Connected stories across the Bhāgavatam

Stories told in other chapters that this chapter's verses or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports bring in, the other Bhāgavatam verses the purports quote, and stories in other cantos with the same themes. Each link shows the sentence it comes from.

King Rahūgaṇa

SB 5.10–14 · Rahūgaṇa learns from Jaḍa Bharata

What it teaches · Spiritual realization requires the mercy and association of great devotees, not merely pride in learning or social position. Their shelter opens the way out of material entanglement toward pure devotional service.

Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa inquired from the great saint Jaḍa Bharata as to how he had attained such a liberated stage of a paramahaṁsa, and in answer the great saint replied as follows ( Bhāg. 5.12.12):

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 2.3.23 (Text 23)
Read the story in SB 5.10–14

Purūravā and Urvaśī

SB 9.14 · Purūravā’s attachment to UrvaśīSB 11.26 · Purūravā awakens from attachment

What it teaches · Purūravā’s experience shows how attachment to a loved companion can bring both delight and intense sorrow at separation.

One who desires to be beautiful should worship the beautiful residents of the Gandharva planet, and one who desires a good wife should worship the Apsarās and the Urvaśī society girls of the heavenly kingdom.

Read the story in SB 9.14

Govardhana Hill

SB 10.24–27 · Govardhana shelters Vraja

What it teaches · Kṛṣṇa protects His surrendered devotees and removes the false pride of those who imagine themselves independent controllers. His correction is meant for their relief.

The celebrated Mīrā Bāī was a staunch devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa as the great lifter of Govardhana Hill.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 2.3.15 (Text 15)
Read the story in SB 10.24–27

The gopīs and the rāsa dance

SB 10.20–22 · The gopīs’ flute songs and vowSB 10.29–33 · The gopīs’ search and the rāsa danceSB 10.46–47 · Uddhava witnesses Vraja’s love

What it teaches · Kṛṣṇa explains that desires fixed upon Him do not produce ordinary material desire for sense gratification. The gopīs’ attention is centered upon Him.

The gopīs loved the Lord without any return, and this is the perfect exhibition of the akāmaḥ spirit.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 2.3.10 (Text 10)

In Vṛndāvana all the pure devotees pray for the mercy of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, the pleasure potency of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 2.3.23 (Text 23)
Read the story in SB 10.20–22

Bharata Mahārāja and Jaḍa Bharata

SB 5.7 · Bharata’s devoted rule and retirementSB 5.8 · Bharata’s attachment to a deerSB 5.9 · Jaḍa Bharata’s hidden devotion

What it teaches · Bharata directed both his royal duties and his retired life toward pleasing the Supreme Lord. Constant devotional service increased his love for Kṛṣṇa.

Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa inquired from the great saint Jaḍa Bharata as to how he had attained such a liberated stage of a paramahaṁsa, and in answer the great saint replied as follows ( Bhāg. 5.12.12):

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 2.3.23 (Text 23)
Read the story in SB 5.7

Other Bhāgavatam verses Śrīla Prabhupāda quotes here

Same themes in another canto

Both chapters carry these themes strongly in the themes map, an editorial reading of each chapter's story.

  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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