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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
2.1.272.1.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.1.28

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

उर:स्थलं ज्योतिरनीकमस्य

ग्रीवा महर्वदनं वै जनोऽस्य ।

तपो वराटीं विदुरादिपुंस:

सत्यं तु शीर्षाणि सहस्रशीर्ष्ण: ॥ २८ ॥

uraḥ-sthalaṁ jyotir-anīkam asya

grīvā mahar vadanaṁ vai jano ’sya

tapo varāṭīṁ vidur ādi-puṁsaḥ

satyaṁ tu śīrṣāṇi sahasra-śīrṣṇaḥ

Translation

The chest of the Original Personality of the gigantic form is the luminary planetary system, His neck is the Mahar planets, His mouth is the Janas planets, and His forehead is the Tapas planetary system. The topmost planetary system, known as Satyaloka, is the head of He who has one thousand heads.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Countless Universes Rest in Kṛṣṇa’s Potency

  1. 1

    The luminary planets, including the sun and moon, are the chest of the Lord’s gigantic form. Mahar, Janas and Tapas are His neck, mouth and forehead, while Satyaloka is His head.

  2. 2

    The purport describes Viṣṇu, Brahmā and Śiva as chief directors of the modes of material nature. Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu acts as the Supersoul in every living being.

  3. 3

    Innumerable universes float on the Causal Ocean, each with a representation of the Lord’s universal form. All are situated in only one part of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s inconceivable potency.

Key points from the purport
  • The effulgent luminary planets like the sun and the moon are situated almost in the midplace of the universe, and as such they are to be known as the chest of the original gigantic form of the Lord.
  • And above the luminary planets, called also the heavenly places of the universal directorate demigods, are the Mahar, Janas and Tapas planetary systems, and, above all, the Satyaloka planetary system, where the chief directors of the modes of material nature reside, namely Viṣṇu, Brahmā and Śiva.
  • There are innumerable universes floating on the Causal Ocean, and in each of them the representation of the virāṭ form of the Lord is there along with innumerable suns, moons, heavenly demigods, Brahmās, Viṣṇus and Śivas, all of them situated in one part of the inconceivable potency of Lord Kṛṣṇa, as stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (10.42).

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 2.1.28 quotesBG 10.42

There are innumerable universes floating on the Causal Ocean, and in each of them the representation of the virāṭ form of the Lord is there along with innumerable suns, moons, heavenly demigods, Brahmās, Viṣṇus and Śivas, all of them situated in one part of the inconceivable potency of Lord Kṛṣṇa, as stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (10.42).

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. uraḥhigh
  2. sthalamplace (the chest)
  3. jyotiḥ-anīkamthe luminary planets
  4. asyaof Him
  5. grīvāthe neck
  6. mahaḥthe planetary system above the luminaries
  7. vadanammouth
  8. vaiexactly
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

  • 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

What does the existence of countless universes suggest to me about Kṛṣṇa’s inconceivable potency?

Practice

When you see the sun or moon today, remember its place in the universal form and reflect briefly on Kṛṣṇa’s greatness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCountless Universes Rest in Kṛṣṇa’s PotencyThis 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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