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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
2.1.242.1.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.1.25

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

अण्डकोशे शरीरेऽस्मिन् सप्तावरणसंयुते ।

वैराज: पुरुषो योऽसौ भगवान् धारणाश्रय: ॥ २५ ॥

aṇḍa-kośe śarīre ’smin

saptāvaraṇa-saṁyute

vairājaḥ puruṣo yo ’sau

bhagavān dhāraṇāśrayaḥ

Translation

The gigantic universal form of the Personality of Godhead, within the body of the universal shell, which is covered by sevenfold material elements, is the subject for the virāṭ conception.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Remains Complete in All His Forms

  1. 1

    Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the original, eternal Supreme Personality of Godhead. Through His internal potency, He expands into innumerable complete forms without losing any of His fullness.

  2. 2

    The virāṭ conception takes the gigantic universal form within the sevenfold material coverings as its object of meditation. Kṛṣṇa displayed this form to show His unrivaled supreme potency.

  3. 3

    A materialistic person may concentrate on this gigantic form of the Lord. But one should not be misled by pretenders who claim to be Kṛṣṇa without being able to act like Him.

Key points from the purport
  • In the Bhagavad-gītā, it has been proven that the original transcendental and eternal form of the Lord is Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Absolute Personality of Godhead, but by His inconceivable internal potency, ātma-māyā, He can expand Himself by multifarious forms and incarnations simultaneously, without being diminished in His full potency.
  • In the Eleventh Chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā, the Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, manifested His virāṭ-rūpa just to convince the less intelligent class of men, who cannot conceive of the Lord as appearing just like a human being, that He factually has the potency of His claim to be the Supreme Absolute Person without any rival or superior.
  • The virāṭ-rūpa was particularly exhibited by the Lord just to give lessons to such foolish men, so that one can accept a person as the incarnation of Godhead only if such a person is able to exhibit such a virāṭ-rūpa as Lord Kṛṣṇa did.

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. aṇḍa-kośewithin the universal shell
  2. śarīrein the body of
  3. asminthis
  4. saptasevenfold
  5. āvaraṇacoverings
  6. saṁyutehaving so done
  7. vairājaḥthe gigantic universal
  8. puruṣaḥform of the Lord
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.1

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Kṛṣṇa’s remaining complete through innumerable expansions deepen my understanding of His greatness?

Practice

Spend one minute reflecting on this teaching: Kṛṣṇa expands into many complete forms yet remains fully complete.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Remains Complete in All His FormsThis 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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