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

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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 1 · Chapter 2: Divinity and Divine Service
1.2.241.2.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.2.25

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.2.2inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

भेजिरे मुनयोऽथाग्रे भगवन्तमधोक्षजम् ।

सत्त्वं विशुद्धं क्षेमाय कल्पन्ते येऽनु तानिह ॥ २५ ॥

bhejire munayo ’thāgre

bhagavantam adhokṣajam

sattvaṁ viśuddhaṁ kṣemāya

kalpante ye ’nu tān iha

Translation

Previously all the great sages rendered service unto the Personality of Godhead due to His existence above the three modes of material nature. They worshiped Him to become free from material conditions and thus derive the ultimate benefit. Whoever follows such great authorities is also eligible for liberation from the material world.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow Those Who Serve the Supreme Person

  1. 1

    The great sages served the Personality of Godhead, who exists above the three modes of material nature. They worshiped Him for freedom from material conditions and the ultimate benefit.

  2. 2

    Religion is not meant merely for material gain or knowledge that distinguishes matter from spirit. Its ultimate aim is freedom from material bondage and life in the transcendental world, where the Personality of Godhead is the Supreme Person.

  3. 3

    The laws of religion are directly enacted by the Personality of Godhead. His twelve authorized agents, the mahājanas, know religion’s purpose and serve Him; following them brings the supreme benefit.

Key points from the purport
  • The purpose of performing religion is neither to profit by material gain nor to get the simple knowledge of discerning matter from spirit.
  • The ultimate aim of religious performances is to release oneself from material bondage and regain the life of freedom in the transcendental world, where the Personality of Godhead is the Supreme Person.
  • Laws of religion, therefore, are directly enacted by the Personality of Godhead, and except for the mahājanas, or the authorized agents of the Lord, no one knows the purpose of religion.

Śrīla Prabhupāda'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

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

Further reading

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhejirerendered service unto
  2. munayaḥthe sages
  3. athathus
  4. agrepreviously
  5. bhagavantamunto the Personality of Godhead
  6. adhokṣajamthe Transcendence
  7. sattvamexistence
  8. viśuddhamabove the three modes of nature
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.2

    In this verse: “worshiped”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.2

    In this verse: “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 1.2

    In this verse: “free from”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does my approach to religion aim at material gain, or at freedom through service to the Supreme Person?

Practice

Before one act of worship today, pause and set the intention to serve the Personality of Godhead rather than seek material gain.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

2 lectures given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayFollow Those Who Serve the Supreme PersonThis 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 1.2.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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