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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
2.1.72.1.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.1.8

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 2.1.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इदं भागवतं नाम पुराणं ब्रह्मसम्मितम् ।

अधीतवान् द्वापरादौ पितुर्द्वैपायनादहम् ॥ ८ ॥

idaṁ bhāgavataṁ nāma

purāṇaṁ brahma-sammitam

adhītavān dvāparādau

pitur dvaipāyanād aham

Translation

At the end of the Dvāpara-yuga, I studied this great supplement of Vedic literature named Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is equal to all the Vedas, from my father, Śrīla Dvaipāyana Vyāsadeva.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Learn Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam From a Realized Soul

  1. 1

    Although Śukadeva Gosvāmī was liberated from birth, he studied Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam under his father, Śrīla Vyāsadeva. His example shows that liberated souls are attracted to the Lord’s activities.

  2. 2

    Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam cannot be understood through one’s own intellectual ability alone. Like a medical student learning under qualified professors, its student needs the guidance of a realized soul.

  3. 3

    Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the sound representative of Lord Kṛṣṇa and the essence of Vedic literature. It describes the Supreme Person’s name, form, attributes and pastimes with His pure devotees.

Key points from the purport
  • He cites from the example of his life that he himself was attracted by the transcendental activities of the Lord, and he studied Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from his great father, Śrī Dvaipāyana Vyāsadeva.
  • Similarly, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the postgraduate study of the science of Godhead, can only be learned by studying it at the feet of a realized soul like Śrīla Vyāsadeva.
  • Although Śukadeva Gosvāmī was a liberated soul from the very day of his birth, he still had to take lessons of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from his great father, Vyāsadeva, who compiled the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam under the instruction of another great soul, Śrī Nārada Muni.

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. idamthis
  2. bhāgavatamŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam
  3. nāmaof the name
  4. purāṇamVedic supplement
  5. brahma-sammitamapproved as the essence of the Vedas
  6. adhītavānstudied
  7. dvāpara-ādauat the end of the Dvāpara-yuga
  8. pituḥfrom my father
  9. dvaipāyanātDvaipāyana Vyāsadeva
  10. ahammyself
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “father”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.1

    In this verse: “devotees”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I willing to receive guidance rather than rely only on my own understanding?

Practice

Write down one question about this passage to ask a qualified teacher of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

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 todayLearn Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam From a Realized SoulThis 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 2.1.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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