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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
2.1.302.1.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.1.31

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

छन्दांस्यनन्तस्य शिरो गृणन्ति

दंष्ट्रा यम: स्‍नेहकला द्विजानि ।

हासो जनोन्मादकरी च माया

दुरन्तसर्गो यदपाङ्गमोक्ष: ॥ ३१ ॥

chandāṁsy anantasya śiro gṛṇanti

daṁṣṭrā yamaḥ sneha-kalā dvijāni

hāso janonmāda-karī ca māyā

duranta-sargo yad-apāṅga-mokṣaḥ

Translation

They say that the Vedic hymns are the cerebral passage of the Lord, and His jaws of teeth are Yama, god of death, who punishes the sinners. The art of affection is His set of teeth, and the most alluring illusory material energy is His smile. This great ocean of material creation is but the casting of His glance over us.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

See Beyond Illusion and Surrender

  1. 1

    Material creation results from the Lord’s glance over His material energy. This most alluring illusory energy is described as His smile.

  2. 2

    The temporary material creation is an imitation of reality. Souls captivated by materialism come under Yamarāja, the controller of sinners.

  3. 3

    The Lord smiles affectionately, displaying His teeth. An intelligent person who understands these truths becomes fully surrendered to Him.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Vedic assertion, this material creation is the result of the Lord’s casting a glance over the material energy, which is described herein as the most alluring illusory energy.
  • The conditioned souls who are allured by such materialism should know that the material temporary creation is simply an imitation of the reality and that those who are captivated by such alluring glances of the Lord are put under the direction of the controller of sinners called Yamarāja.
  • The intelligent person who can grasp these truths about the Lord becomes a soul fully surrendered unto Him.

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. chandāṁsithe Vedic hymns
  2. anantasyaof the Supreme
  3. śiraḥthe cerebral passage
  4. gṛṇantithey say
  5. daṁṣṭrāḥthe jaws of teeth
  6. yamaḥYamarāja, the director of sinners
  7. sneha-kalāḥthe art of affection
  8. dvijānithe set of teeth
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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”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 2.1

    In this verse: “death”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

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

    In this verse: “surrendered”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which temporary attraction most distracts me from surrendering to the Lord?

Practice

Pause before pursuing one material attraction today and offer a brief prayer for help in surrendering to the Lord.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySee Beyond Illusion and SurrenderThis 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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