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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto

Canto 2 · The Cosmic Manifestation · 10 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

2.1.5 2.1.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.1.6

Mukti· Liberation

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 2.1.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एतावान् सांख्ययोगाभ्यां स्वधर्मपरिनिष्ठया ।

जन्मलाभ: पर: पुंसामन्ते नारायणस्मृति: ॥ ६ ॥

etāvān sāṅkhya-yogābhyāṁ

sva-dharma-pariniṣṭhayā

janma-lābhaḥ paraḥ puṁsām

ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ

Translation

The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by practice of mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Shape Life Around Remembering the Lord

1
The highest perfection of human life is to remember the Personality of Godhead at life’s end. Knowledge, mystic practice and occupational duty reach perfection when they lead to this remembrance.
2
Nārāyaṇa, the Personality of Godhead, is beyond the material creation. His name, form and attributes are also beyond the material world.
3
Constant remembrance becomes possible through the association of a pure devotee and being situated in devotional service. Life should be shaped so that we progressively remember the Lord at every step.

Key points from the purport

Nārāyaṇa is the transcendental Personality of Godhead beyond the material creation.
None of the devotees of the Lord ever deviated from the path of devotional service by taking to other methods as adopted by the jñānīs or yogīs.
In other words, life should be molded in such a manner that one is able to progressively remember the Personality of Godhead in every step of life.

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· 2

Quoted in the purport ofSB 6.1.27

In the Second Canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.1.6) Śukadeva Gosvāmī says: “The highest perfection of human life, achieved either by complete knowledge of matter and spirit, by acquirement of mystic powers, or by perfect discharge of one’s occupational duty, is to remember the Personality of Godhead at the end of life.”

Quoted in the purport ofSB 10.12.7-11

Janma-lābhaḥ paraḥ puṁsām ante nārāyaṇa-smṛtiḥ: if we can somehow or other remember Kṛṣṇa, Nārāyaṇa, at the end of life, our life will be successful.

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

etāvānall these
sāṅkhyacomplete knowledge of matter and spirit
yogābhyāmknowledge of mystic power
sva-dharmaparticular occupational duty
pariniṣṭhayāby full perception
janmabirth
lābhaḥgain
paraḥthe supreme

Key ideas in this verse

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

Mukti · Liberation
What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.1
In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 2.1
In this verse: “knowledge”
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 2.1
In this verse: “duty”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What small change in my routine would help me remember the Personality of Godhead more often?

Practice

Choose one daily task today and pause before it to remember Nārāyaṇa, the Personality of Godhead.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

2 lectures given on it · quoted in 16 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 16 other lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayShape Life Around Remembering the LordThis 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 2.1.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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