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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
1.2.251.2.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.2.26

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

मुमुक्षवो घोररूपान् हित्वा भूतपतीनथ ।

नारायणकला: शान्ता भजन्ति ह्यनसूयव: ॥ २६ ॥

mumukṣavo ghora-rūpān

hitvā bhūta-patīn atha

nārāyaṇa-kalāḥ śāntā

bhajanti hy anasūyavaḥ

Translation

Those who are serious about liberation are certainly nonenvious, and they respect all. Yet they reject the horrible and ghastly forms of the demigods and worship only the all-blissful forms of Lord Viṣṇu and His plenary portions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Respect All, Worship Viṣṇu for Liberation

  1. 1

    Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original person of the Viṣṇu categories. His integrated plenary portions are worshipful objects of service, while His separated parts and parcels are servitors.

  2. 2

    The empowered demigods have limited power and must not be placed in the same category as viṣṇu-tattva. They can award temporary benefits, but only Viṣṇu can bestow liberation.

  3. 3

    Those serious about liberation worship only the all-blissful forms of Viṣṇu and His plenary portions. They remain nonenvious and respectful toward the demigods, without grudges against others’ worship.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who is the original person of the Viṣṇu categories, expands Himself in two different categories, namely integrated plenary portions and separated parts and parcels.
  • Therefore, one should never classify the viṣṇu-tattvas, or the plenary portions of Nārāyaṇa, the Personality of Godhead, in the same categories with the parts and parcels.
  • They know very well that these horrible features of the Supreme Lord are all different servitors of the Lord under different conditions, yet they reject the worship of both horrible and attractive features of the demigods, and they concentrate only on the forms of Viṣṇu because they are serious about liberation from the material conditions.

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· 1

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 24.123

This is a quotation from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.26).

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

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mumukṣavaḥpersons desiring liberation
  2. ghorahorrible, ghastly
  3. rūpānforms like that
  4. hitvārejecting
  5. bhūta-patīndemigods
  6. athafor this reason
  7. nārāyaṇathe Personality of Godhead
  8. kalāḥplenary portions
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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: “worship”, “worshipful”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 1.2

    In this verse: “separated”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I remain firm in worshiping Viṣṇu while showing sincere respect toward others?

Practice

Take a minute today to reflect on worshiping Viṣṇu without resentment toward people whose worship differs from yours.

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.

1 lecture given on it · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 other lecture

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

7

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 1.2's connections

Live this todayRespect All, Worship Viṣṇu for LiberationThis 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 1.2.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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