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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
  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 2 · Chapter 1: The First Step in God Realization
2.1.192.1.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.1.20

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

रजस्तमोभ्यामाक्षिप्तं विमूढं मन आत्मन: ।

यच्छेद्धारणया धीरो हन्ति या तत्कृतं मलम् ॥ २० ॥

rajas-tamobhyām ākṣiptaṁ

vimūḍhaṁ mana ātmanaḥ

yacched dhāraṇayā dhīro

hanti yā tat-kṛtaṁ malam

Translation

One’s mind is always agitated by the passionate mode of material nature and bewildered by the ignorant mode of nature. But one can rectify such conceptions by the relation of Viṣṇu and thus become pacified by cleansing the dirty things created by them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Connect Everything Through an Attitude of Service

  1. 1

    Passion agitates the mind, and ignorance bewilders it. Excessive hankering after wealth and women expresses these influences, while goodness allows knowledge of the Supreme Truth.

  2. 2

    Remembering Viṣṇu and recognizing His relation with everything can rectify material leanings. This training is meant to lead toward realization of the Lord’s personal feature, not remain an impersonal conception.

  3. 3

    Everything created by material energy can be connected with the Absolute through an attitude of service. The pure devotee knows this art, and only devotional service perfects such a vision.

Key points from the purport
  • Persons generally conducted by the modes of passion and ignorance cannot be bona fide candidates for being situated in the transcendental stage of God realization.
  • And those who are too much after wealth and women can rectify their leanings only by constant remembrance of Viṣṇu in His feature composed of impersonal potencies.
  • Actually they are impure in heart on account of being devoid of knowledge of the personal feature of the Absolute.

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

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

Further reading

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rajaḥthe passionate mode of nature
  2. tamobhyāmas well as by the ignorant mode of material nature
  3. ākṣiptamagitated
  4. vimūḍhambewildered
  5. manaḥthe mind
  6. ātmanaḥof one’s own
  7. yacchetget it rectified
  8. dhāraṇayāby conception (of Viṣṇu)
3

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”, “wealth”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.1

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 2.1

    In this verse: “cleansing”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What resource am I treating only as an object of enjoyment rather than an opportunity for service?

Practice

Choose one resource you have, such as time or money, and use a small portion in the Lord’s service today.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayConnect Everything Through an Attitude of 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 2.1.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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