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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
1.2.31.2.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.2.4

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

नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम् ।

देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत् ॥ ४ ॥

nārāyaṇaṁ namaskṛtya

naraṁ caiva narottamam

devīṁ sarasvatīṁ vyāsaṁ

tato jayam udīrayet

Translation

Before reciting this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is the very means of conquest, one should offer respectful obeisances unto the Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, unto Nara-nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi, the supermost human being, unto mother Sarasvatī, the goddess of learning, and unto Śrīla Vyāsadeva, the author.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Begin Study With Respectful Obeisances

  1. 1

    Before reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, one should offer respectful obeisances to Nārāyaṇa, Nara-nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi, mother Sarasvatī and Śrīla Vyāsadeva. Sūta Gosvāmī shows how to begin reciting the Purāṇas.

  2. 2

    Attraction to material sense gratification makes the living being forget his eternal relation with God. To overcome the perpetual struggle for existence, that relation must be reestablished.

  3. 3

    The Purāṇas supplement the Vedas and guide different kinds of people toward freedom from material existence. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the spotless Purāṇa, especially meant for those seeking permanent release from material entanglement.

Key points from the purport
  • All the Vedic literatures and the Purāṇas are meant for conquering the darkest region of material existence.
  • And one who wants to adopt such remedial measures must take shelter of literatures such as the Vedas and the Purāṇas.
  • Foolish people say that the Purāṇas have no connection with the Vedas.

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. nārāyaṇamthe Personality of Godhead
  2. namaḥ-kṛtyaafter offering respectful obeisances
  3. naram ca evaand Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi
  4. nara-uttamamthe supermost human being
  5. devīmthe goddess
  6. sarasvatīmthe mistress of learning
  7. vyāsamVyāsadeva
  8. tataḥthereafter
  9. jayamall that is meant for conquering
  10. udīrayetbe announced
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.2

    In this verse: “reciting”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “mother”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might my study change if I approached it as a way to reestablish my relation with God?

Practice

Before reading today, offer respectful obeisances to Nārāyaṇa, Nara-nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi, mother Sarasvatī and Śrīla Vyāsadeva.

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 3 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

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.

Live this todayBegin Study With Respectful ObeisancesThis 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 1.2.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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