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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
2.1.352.1.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.1.36

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

वयांसि तद्व्याकरणं विचित्रं

मनुर्मनीषा मनुजो निवास: ।

गन्धर्वविद्याधरचारणाप्सर:

स्वरस्मृतीरसुरानीकवीर्य: ॥ ३६ ॥

vayāṁsi tad-vyākaraṇaṁ vicitraṁ

manur manīṣā manujo nivāsaḥ

gandharva-vidyādhara-cāraṇāpsaraḥ

svara-smṛtīr asurānīka-vīryaḥ

Translation

Varieties of birds are indications of His masterful artistic sense. Manu, the father of mankind, is the emblem of His standard intelligence, and humanity is His residence. The celestial species of human beings, like the Gandharvas, Vidyādharas, Cāraṇas and angels, all represent His musical rhythm, and the demoniac soldiers are representations of His wonderful prowess.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Creation Reveals the Lord’s Supreme Personality

  1. 1

    The colorful varieties of birds manifest the Lord’s artistic sense, and celestial music represents His musical sense. His taste, artistry and unfailing intelligence are signs of His supreme personality, not impersonality.

  2. 2

    Human life is meant for God realization and association with God. It is a chance for the conditioned soul to regain eternal God consciousness and fulfill life’s mission.

  3. 3

    Every living being has a particular duty in relation to the Lord’s supreme body. Reestablishing this relationship brings unity among living beings, and glorifying the Supreme Lord is the way to peace and amity.

Key points from the purport
  • The aesthetic sense of the Lord is manifested in the artistic, colorful creation of varieties of birds like the peacock, parrot and cuckoo.
  • The celestial species of human beings, like the Gandharvas and Vidyādharas, can sing wonderfully and can entice even the minds of the heavenly demigods.
  • Disruption in the matter of discharging the specific duty assigned to each and every living being is the cause of disharmony between one living being and another, but when the relation is reestablished in relation with the Supreme Lord, there is complete unity between all living beings, even up to the limit of the wild animals and human society.

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. vayāṁsivarieties of birds
  2. tat-vyākaraṇamvocables
  3. vicitramartistic
  4. manuḥthe father of mankind
  5. manīṣāthoughts
  6. manujaḥmankind (the sons of Manu)
  7. nivāsaḥresidence
  8. gandharvathe human beings named Gandharvas
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 2.1

    In this verse: “father”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 2.1

    In this verse: “glorifying”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 2.1

    In this verse: “duty”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might recognizing your relationship with the Lord help you relate more peacefully to others?

Practice

Notice a bird today, or recall one you have seen, and take a moment to appreciate the Lord’s artistic sense.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 2.1's connections

Live this todayCreation Reveals the Lord’s Supreme PersonalityThis 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 2.1.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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