1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 2 · The Cosmic Manifestation · 10 chapters

12345678910

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 2 · Chapter 1: The First Step in God Realization
2.1.202.1.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.1.21

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

यस्यां सन्धार्यमाणायां योगिनो भक्तिलक्षण: ।

आशु सम्पद्यते योग आश्रयं भद्रमीक्षत: ॥ २१ ॥

yasyāṁ sandhāryamāṇāyāṁ

yogino bhakti-lakṣaṇaḥ

āśu sampadyate yoga

āśrayaṁ bhadram īkṣataḥ

Translation

O King, by this system of remembrance and by being fixed in the habit of seeing the all-good personal conception of the Lord, one can very soon attain devotional service to the Lord, under His direct shelter.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remembrance Leads to the Lord’s Shelter

  1. 1

    Systematic remembrance of the all-good personal Lord can quickly lead to devotional service under His direct shelter.

  2. 2

    Recognizing the Lord’s presence everywhere trains the mind in a devotional attitude. Mystic practices succeed only with the help of devotion.

  3. 3

    The impersonal path is more troublesome because it approaches the goal indirectly. Its benefit lies in eventually developing devotional service and recognition of the Lord’s personal feature.

Key points from the purport
  • Success of mystic performances is achieved only by the help of the devotional attitude.
  • Pantheism, or the system of feeling the presence of the Almighty everywhere, is a sort of training of the mind to become accustomed to the devotional conception, and it is this devotional attitude of the mystic that makes possible the successful termination of such mystic attempts.
  • One is not, however, elevated to such a successful status without the tinge of mixture in devotional service.

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 2.1.21 quotesBG 12.5

It is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (12.5) that the impersonal way of self-realization is more troublesome because it reaches the goal in an indirect way, although the impersonalist also becomes obsessed with the personal feature of the Lord after a long time.

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

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. yasyāmby such systematic remembrance
  2. sandhāryamāṇāyāmand thus being fixed in the habit of
  3. yoginaḥthe mystics
  4. bhakti-lakṣaṇaḥbeing practiced to the devotional system
  5. āśuvery soon
  6. sampadyateattains success
  7. yogaḥconnection by devotional service
  8. āśrayamunder the shelter of
  9. bhadramthe all-good
  10. īkṣataḥwhich seeing that
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 2.1

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 2.1

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Is my spiritual practice helping me develop a devotional relationship with the personal Lord?

Practice

Set aside one quiet minute today to remember the all-good personal Lord and your wish to serve under His shelter.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemembrance Leads to the Lord’s ShelterThis 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 2.1.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories