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

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Canto 2 · The Cosmic Manifestation · 10 chapters

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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 2 · Chapter 1: The First Step in God Realization

2.1.17 2.1.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.1.18

Mukti· Liberation

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 2.1.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नियच्छेद्विषयेभ्योऽक्षान्मनसा बुद्धिसारथि: ।

मन: कर्मभिराक्षिप्तं शुभार्थे धारयेद्धिया ॥ १८ ॥

niyacched viṣayebhyo ’kṣān

manasā buddhi-sārathiḥ

manaḥ karmabhir ākṣiptaṁ

śubhārthe dhārayed dhiyā

Translation

Gradually, as the mind becomes progressively spiritualized, withdraw it from sense activities, and by intelligence the senses will be controlled. The mind too absorbed in material activities can be engaged in the service of the Personality of Godhead and become fixed in full transcendental consciousness.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Engage the Mind in Loving Service

1
Breathing control and even samādhi do not necessarily control a materially absorbed mind. Memories of past sense enjoyment can still disturb self-realization.
2
The assured next step is to fix the mind in service to the Personality of Godhead. Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, recommends this direct process.
3
Hearing, chanting and other devotional activities engage the mind in transcendental loving service. Under proper guidance, this is the surest path of progress, even for a disturbed mind.

Key points from the purport

But experience has proven that even the samādhi stage also fails to control the materially absorbed mind.
Therefore, Śukadeva Gosvāmī recommends the next step of assured policy, namely to fix one’s mind in the service of the Personality of Godhead.
Thus, the mind being spiritually cleansed, one should at once engage himself in the transcendental loving service of the Lord by the different devotional activities of hearing, chanting, etc. If performed under proper guidance, that is the surest path of progress, even for the disturbed mind.

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· 1

The purport of SB 2.1.18 quotesBG 6.47

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, also recommends this direct process in the Bhagavad-gītā (6.47).

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

Death anxiety → Steady attention. The answer to mortality begins with spiritual focus.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 2: The practice of hearing, remembering and devotion. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 1: The First Step in God Realization

Śukadeva describes the value of conscious living, self-control, and meditation on the Lord’s universal form.

Back to this verse in chapter 2.1

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

niyacchetwithdraw
viṣayebhyaḥfrom sense engagements
akṣānthe senses
manasāby dint of the mind
buddhiintelligence
sārathiḥdriver
manaḥthe mind
karmabhiḥby the fruitive work

Key ideas in this verse

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

Mukti · Liberation
What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.1
In this verse: “material”, “materially”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 2.1
In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.1
In this verse: “devotional”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How could I engage my distracted mind in the Lord’s service rather than merely trying to stop its thoughts?

Practice

Spend five minutes attentively hearing or chanting about the Lord, gently returning your attention whenever it wanders.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEngage the Mind in Loving ServiceThis 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 2.1.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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