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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
  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
1.2.321.2.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.2.33

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.2.2inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

असौ गुणमयैर्भावैर्भूतसूक्ष्मेन्द्रियात्मभि: ।

स्वनिर्मितेषु निर्विष्टो भुङ्क्ते भूतेषु तद्गुणान् ॥ ३३ ॥

asau guṇamayair bhāvair

bhūta-sūkṣmendriyātmabhiḥ

sva-nirmiteṣu nirviṣṭo

bhuṅkte bhūteṣu tad-guṇān

Translation

The Supersoul enters into the bodies of the created beings who are influenced by the modes of material nature and causes them to enjoy the effects of these modes by the subtle mind.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Guides Us Toward Real Happiness

  1. 1

    Living beings experience material enjoyment according to the desires of the subtle mind and gross body. The body's conditions and senses correspond to the living being's desires.

  2. 2

    The living being depends on Paramātmā to obtain what it desires. The living being proposes, and the Lord disposes.

  3. 3

    The Lord constantly remains with the living being and tries to turn it toward real happiness. Like a father, He cares for His children, yet He is not directly affected by their suffering and enjoyment.

Key points from the purport
  • There are 8,400,000 species of living beings beginning from the highest intellectual being, Brahmā, down to the insignificant ant, and all of them are enjoying the material world according to the desires of the subtle mind and gross material body.
  • The Lord as Paramātmā helps the living being to get material happiness because the living being is helpless in all respects in obtaining what he desires.
  • In the Bhagavad-gītā the living beings in all varieties of bodies have been claimed by the Lord as His sons.

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. asauthat Paramātmā
  2. guṇa-mayaiḥinfluenced by the modes of nature
  3. bhāvaiḥnaturally
  4. bhūtacreated
  5. sūkṣmasubtle
  6. indriyasenses
  7. ātmabhiḥby the living beings
  8. sva-nirmiteṣuin His own creation
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 1.2

    In this verse: “father”, “children”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “suffering”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking only the fulfillment of my desires, or am I open to the Lord's guidance toward real happiness?

Practice

Notice one desire today and pause to reflect on your dependence on Paramātmā and His care for your real happiness.

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. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayThe Lord Guides Us Toward Real HappinessThis 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 1.2.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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