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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
2.1.262.1.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.1.27

Sthāna· The universe in order
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 2.1.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

द्वे जानुनी सुतलं विश्वमूर्ते-

रूरुद्वयं वितलं चातलं च ।

महीतलं तज्जघनं महीपते

नभस्तलं नाभिसरो गृणन्ति ॥ २७ ॥

dve jānunī sutalaṁ viśva-mūrter

ūru-dvayaṁ vitalaṁ cātalaṁ ca

mahītalaṁ taj-jaghanaṁ mahīpate

nabhastalaṁ nābhi-saro gṛṇanti

Translation

The knees of the universal form are the planetary system of the name Sutala, and the two thighs are the Vitala and Atala planetary systems. The hips are Mahītala, and outer space is the depression of His navel.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Planetary Systems Within the Universal Form

  1. 1

    Sutala is described as the knees of the Lord’s universal form.

  2. 2

    Vitala and Atala are His two thighs, and Mahītala is His hips.

  3. 3

    Outer space is described as the depression of His navel. These descriptions present the planetary systems in relation to the Lord’s gigantic form.

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. dvetwo
  2. jānunītwo knees
  3. sutalamthe planetary system named Sutala
  4. viśva-mūrteḥof the universal form
  5. ūru-dvayamthe two thighs
  6. vitalamthe planetary system named Vitala
  7. caalso
  8. atalamthe planets named Atala
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does viewing the planetary systems in relation to the Lord change my contemplation of the universe?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once, following its description from the Lord’s knees to His navel.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPlanetary Systems Within the Universal FormThis 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 2.1.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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