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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
1.2.71.2.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.2.8

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.2.2inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

धर्म: स्वनुष्ठित: पुंसां विष्वक्सेनकथासु य: ।

नोत्पादयेद्यदि रतिं श्रम एव हि केवलम् ॥ ८ ॥

dharmaḥ svanuṣṭhitaḥ puṁsāṁ

viṣvaksena-kathāsu yaḥ

notpādayed yadi ratiṁ

śrama eva hi kevalam

Translation

The occupational activities a man performs according to his own position are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Personality of Godhead.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Let Duties Awaken Attraction for God

  1. 1

    The self is beyond the body and mind, which are only the soul’s outer coverings. Providing bodily and mental comforts alone cannot satisfy the spirit soul.

  2. 2

    Everyone has dormant affection for God. Hearing and chanting the Supreme Lord’s divine activities awakens divine consciousness and attachment to His message.

  3. 3

    Occupational duties that do not awaken attraction for the message of the Personality of Godhead are only useless labor. The soul’s longing for complete freedom and satisfaction is fulfilled through perfect devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • Because foolish people have no information of the soul and how it is beyond the purview of the body and mind, they are not satisfied in the performance of their occupational duties.
  • The self is beyond the gross body and subtle mind.
  • The body and the mind are but superfluous outer coverings of the spirit soul.

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· 5

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.23.7

If, after executing all types of tapasya, one cannot reach Kṛṣṇa, all his tapasya has no value, for without Kṛṣṇa all austerity is simply wasted labor, śrama eva hi kevalam.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.24.72

This is confirmed in the First Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.8): The conclusion is that even if one is busy executing his occupational duty, his business in Kṛṣṇa consciousness need not be hampered.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.27.3

As confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.8): If after performing one’s occupational duty very perfectly one does not make progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it should be understood that he has simply wasted his time in valueless labor.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.9.4

“Duties [ dharma] executed by men, regardless of occupation, are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Supreme Lord.”

Quoted in the purport ofSB 6.16.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.8) says: “Duties (dharma) executed by men, regardless of occupation, are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Supreme Lord.”

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. dharmaḥoccupation
  2. svanuṣṭhitaḥexecuted in terms of one’s own position
  3. puṁsāmof humankind
  4. viṣvaksenathe Personality of Godhead (plenary portion)
  5. kathāsuin the message of
  6. yaḥwhat is
  7. nanot
  8. utpādayetdoes produce
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.2

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.2

    In this verse: “duties”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do my daily activities support a growing desire to hear and chant about the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Reserve five minutes in today’s schedule to read aloud about the Supreme Lord’s divine activities.

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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.

5 lectures given on it · quoted in 108 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Show 3 more lectures on it
Quoted in 108 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 todayLet Duties Awaken Attraction for GodOne of the 108 chosen lessons: a practice and a question from this verse

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 1.2.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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