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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
1.2.21.2.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.2.3

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.2.2inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

य: स्वानुभावमखिलश्रुतिसारमेक-

मध्यात्मदीपमतितितीर्षतां तमोऽन्धम् ।

संसारिणां करुणयाह पुराणगुह्यं

तं व्याससूनुमुपयामि गुरुं मुनीनाम् ॥ ३ ॥

yaḥ svānubhāvam akhila-śruti-sāram ekam

adhyātma-dīpam atititīrṣatāṁ tamo ’ndham

saṁsāriṇāṁ karuṇayāha purāṇa-guhyaṁ

taṁ vyāsa-sūnum upayāmi guruṁ munīnām

Translation

Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto him [Śuka], the spiritual master of all sages, the son of Vyāsadeva, who, out of his great compassion for those gross materialists who struggle to cross over the darkest regions of material existence, spoke this most confidential supplement to the cream of Vedic knowledge, after having personally assimilated it by experience.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Bhāgavatam Illuminates the Way Beyond Material Existence

  1. 1

    Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the natural commentary on the Vedānta-sūtras, which present the cream of Vedic knowledge. Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī personally realized this knowledge before explaining it.

  2. 2

    Plans for permanent material happiness are baffled by the laws of material nature. Out of compassion, Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī spoke for those who sincerely desire to escape material existence.

  3. 3

    Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is a transcendental torchlight revealing the Absolute Truth as Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān. Those who sincerely wish to leave material bondage can take shelter of it, free from envy of the Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī was a thoroughly realized master on the Vedānta-sūtra, and consequently he also personally realized the commentary, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
  • By the mercy of Śrīla Śukadeva, the Bhāgavata-vedānta-sūtra is available for all those sincere souls who want to get out of material existence.
  • The envious Māyāvādī cannot have access to the Bhāgavatam, but those who are really anxious to get out of this material existence may take shelter of this Bhāgavatam because it is uttered by the liberated Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī.

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. yaḥhe who
  2. sva-anubhāvamself-assimilated (experienced)
  3. akhilaall around
  4. śrutithe Vedas
  5. sāramcream
  6. ekamthe only one
  7. adhyātmatranscendental
  8. dīpamtorchlight
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.2

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “absolute truth”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “materialists”, “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 1.2

    In this verse: “compassion”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking only better material arrangements, or do I sincerely want freedom from material bondage?

Practice

Read this translation again slowly, considering the compassion behind Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī’s teaching.

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 · 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.

Live this todayBhāgavatam Illuminates the Way Beyond Material ExistenceThis 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 1.2.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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