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

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.

Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Canto 1 · Chapter 2: Divinity and Divine Service

1.2.11 1.2.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.2.12

Mukti· Liberation

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.2.2inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तच्छ्रद्दधाना मुनयो ज्ञानवैराग्ययुक्तया ।

पश्यन्त्यात्मनि चात्मानं भक्त्या श्रुतगृहीतया ॥ १२ ॥

tac chraddadhānā munayo

jñāna-vairāgya-yuktayā

paśyanty ātmani cātmānaṁ

bhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayā

Translation

The seriously inquisitive student or sage, well equipped with knowledge and detachment, realizes that Absolute Truth by rendering devotional service in terms of what he has heard from the Vedānta-śruti.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Realize the Truth Through Informed Devotion

1
The Absolute Truth is realized in full through devotional service to Vāsudeva, the Personality of Godhead. Brahman and Paramātmā realization are partial realizations.
2
Devotional service is accompanied by knowledge and detachment from material association. It must be guided by hearing authoritative Vedic teachings, rather than by a mere show of worship.
3
A beginner must progress beyond attachment to material benefits by learning from a genuine devotee. Hearing and following authoritative instructions are essential for actual progress.

Key points from the purport

The Absolute Truth is realized in full by the process of devotional service to the Lord, Vāsudeva, or the Personality of Godhead, who is the full-fledged Absolute Truth.
As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā and other Vedic literatures, the Supreme Person is realized by devotional service, which is backed by full knowledge and detachment from material association.
The third-class devotee therefore has to go to the personality of devotee in order to learn the instructions of devotional service.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 4

Quoted in the purport ofSB 1.18.16

Such a stage is attained by knowledge and renunciation, as we have already explained, and perfect knowledge, as delivered by Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī, results in the attainment of the transcendental service of the Lord.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 2.6.38

bhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayā. The conclusion is that one cannot know the Supreme Personality of Godhead fully by any method, but He can be seen and felt partially by the devotional service process of hearing, chanting, etc.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 10.13.54

“The seriously inquisitive student or sage, well equipped with knowledge and detachment, realizes that Absolute Truth by rendering devotional service in terms of what he has heard from the Vedānta-śruti.”

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 1.34

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.12), bhaktyā śruta-gṛhītayā.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Concern → Purpose. A spiritually urgent question emerges for the age of Kali.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 1: The sages ask the ultimate questions. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 2: Divinity and Divine Service

Sūta explains how hearing about Kṛṣṇa and rendering devotional service purify the heart.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tatthat
śraddadhānāḥseriously inquisitive
munayaḥsages
jñānaknowledge
vairāgyadetachment
yuktayāwell equipped with
paśyantisee
ātmaniwithin himself

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
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.2
In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”, “worship”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.2
In this verse: “knowledge”, “absolute truth”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.2
In this verse: “heard”, “hearing”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I willing to hear and follow instructions that move my devotion beyond seeking material benefits?

Practice

Reread a short passage of this purport and choose one instruction to follow today.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

5 lectures given on it · quoted in 18 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Show 3 more lectures on it

Quoted in 18 other lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayRealize the Truth Through Informed DevotionThis 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 1.2.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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