1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter

Canto

Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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

1.2.27 1.2.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 1.2.28-29

Āśraya· The supreme shelter

Who is speaking and story frame

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

वासुदेवपरा वेदा वासुदेवपरा मखा: ।

वासुदेवपरा योगा वासुदेवपरा: क्रिया: ॥ २८ ॥

वासुदेवपरं ज्ञानं वासुदेवपरं तप: ।

वासुदेवपरो धर्मो वासुदेवपरा गति: ॥ २९ ॥

vāsudeva-parā vedā

vāsudeva-parā makhāḥ

vāsudeva-parā yogā

vāsudeva-parāḥ kriyāḥ

vāsudeva-paraṁ jñānaṁ

vāsudeva-paraṁ tapaḥ

vāsudeva-paro dharmo

vāsudeva-parā gatiḥ

Translation

In the revealed scriptures, the ultimate object of knowledge is Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead. The purpose of performing sacrifice is to please Him. Yoga is for realizing Him. All fruitive activities are ultimately rewarded by Him only. He is supreme knowledge, and all severe austerities are performed to know Him. Religion [dharma] is rendering loving service unto Him. He is the supreme goal of life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Is the Supreme Goal of Life

1
Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the ultimate object of revealed knowledge. The purpose of the Vedas is to establish our relationship with Him and revive our lost loving service.
2
Sacrifices are meant to please Him, and yoga is meant to bring us into touch with Him. All culture of knowledge culminates in devotional service to Vāsudeva.
3
Real austerity means accepting voluntary inconvenience for the sake of knowing Vāsudeva, not for sense gratification. Religion is loving service unto Him, and He is the supreme goal of life.

Key points from the purport

And all culture of knowledge culminates in devotional service to the Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva.
Therefore if any austerities have to be done, they must be done to achieve the end of knowledge, Vāsudeva.
Vāsudeva is the original Personality of Godhead, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

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· 3

The purport of SB 1.2.28-29 quotesBG 14.4

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the father of all living beings.

The purport of SB 1.2.28-29 quotesBG 7.4

They are explained in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.4-6) as the parā and the aparā prakṛtis.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.24.74

As stated in the First Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.28), vāsudeva-parā vedā vāsudeva-parā makhāḥ.

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.

vāsudevathe Personality of Godhead
parāḥthe ultimate goal
vedāḥrevealed scriptures
vāsudevathe Personality of Godhead
parāḥfor worshiping
makhāḥsacrifices
vāsudevathe Personality of Godhead
parāḥthe means of attaining

Key ideas in this verse

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

Āśraya · The summum bonum
Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.2
In this verse: “religion”, “dharma”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.2
In this verse: “knowledge”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.2
In this verse: “devotional service”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make knowing and pleasing Kṛṣṇa the purpose of what I learn?

Practice

Before studying today, pause and set the intention to know Kṛṣṇa and revive your loving service to Him.

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.

1 lecture given on it · quoted in 3 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

SB 1.2.28–298 Nov 1972 · VrndavanaListen

Quoted in 3 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.

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 todayKṛṣṇa Is the Supreme Goal of LifeThis 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 1.2.28-29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories