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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
2.1.222.1.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.1.23

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 2.1.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

जितासनो जितश्वासो जितसङ्गो जितेन्द्रिय: ।

स्थूले भगवतो रूपे मन: सन्धारयेद्धिया ॥ २३ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

jitāsano jita-śvāso

jita-saṅgo jitendriyaḥ

sthūle bhagavato rūpe

manaḥ sandhārayed dhiyā

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī answered: One should control the sitting posture, regulate the breathing process by the yogic prāṇāyāma and thus control the mind and senses and with intelligence apply the mind to the gross potencies of the Lord [called the virāṭ-rūpa].

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Yoga Aims at God Realization

  1. 1

    Regulating posture and breathing and fixing the mind upon the Supreme are prescribed to train the materially absorbed person. The mind must be cleansed before it can concentrate on transcendence.

  2. 2

    The real purpose of yogic regulations is to remove lust, anger, avarice and other material impurities. Becoming diverted by mystic powers defeats the aim of God realization.

  3. 3

    Fixing the mind on the Lord’s gross external feature helps one recognize His potencies. Understanding these as manifestations of transcendence allows gradual progress toward full realization.

Key points from the purport
  • The materially absorbed mind of the conditioned soul does not allow him to transcend the limit of the bodily conception of self, and thus the yoga system for meditation (controlling the sitting posture and breathing process and fixing the mind upon the Supreme) is prescribed in order to mold the character of the gross materialist.
  • And to do so one may fix one’s mind on the gross material or external feature of the Lord.
  • He is therefore recommended to fix his gross materialistic mind by a different conception and thus realize the potency of the Lord.

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. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. jita-āsanaḥcontrolled sitting posture
  3. jita-śvāsaḥcontrolled breathing process
  4. jita-saṅgaḥcontrolled association
  5. jita-indriyaḥcontrolled senses
  6. sthūlein the gross matter
  7. bhagavataḥunto the Personality of Godhead
  8. rūpein the feature of
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: “lust”, “materially”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 2.1

    In this verse: “understanding”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “cleansed”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I measuring spiritual progress by unusual abilities or by freedom from lust, anger and greed?

Practice

Identify one instance of anger or greed today and pause before acting, remembering that spiritual discipline is meant to cleanse the mind.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayYoga Aims at God RealizationThis 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.

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