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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 10: Bhāgavatam Is the Answer to All Questions
2.10.222.10.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.10.23

Sarga· Creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 2.10.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

वस्तुनो मृदुकाठिन्यलघुगुर्वोष्णशीतताम् ।

जिघृक्षतस्त्वङ् निर्भिन्ना तस्यां रोममहीरुहा: ।

तत्र चान्तर्बहिर्वातस्त्वचा लब्धगुणो वृत: ॥ २३ ॥

vastuno mṛdu-kāṭhinya-

laghu-gurv-oṣṇa-śītatām

jighṛkṣatas tvaṅ nirbhinnā

tasyāṁ roma-mahī-ruhāḥ

tatra cāntar bahir vātas

tvacā labdha-guṇo vṛtaḥ

Translation

When there was a desire to perceive the physical characteristics of matter, such as softness, hardness, warmth, cold, lightness and heaviness, the background of sensation, the skin, the skin pores, the hairs on the body and their controlling deities (the trees) were generated. Within and outside the skin is a covering of air through which sense perception became prominent.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Physical Knowledge Is Not Self-Knowledge

  1. 1

    Touch gives knowledge of physical qualities such as softness, temperature and weight. The skin, its pores and bodily hairs are interdependent with this sensation.

  2. 2

    Physical and physiological knowledge are subordinate to knowledge of the Self. Knowledge of the Self can expand to knowledge of phenomena, but physical knowledge cannot lead to knowledge of the Self.

  3. 3

    The hairs of the body have an intimate relation with the earth’s vegetation. Vegetables nourish the skin as both food and medicine.

Key points from the purport
  • The physical characteristics of matter, such as softness, are subjects of sense perception, and thus physical knowledge is the subject matter of the touch sensation.
  • The skin, the skin pores and the hairs on the body are all interdependent with the touch sensation.
  • The air blowing within and outside the skin is also an object of sense perception.

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

Inquiry → Conviction. Divine knowledge resolves fundamental cosmic uncertainty.

Chapters 8–10 of Canto 2: Parīkṣit questions; Brahmā receives revelation. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 10: Bhāgavatam Is the Answer to All Questions

Śukadeva outlines the Bhāgavatam’s subjects and describes creation through the Lord’s universal form.

Back to this verse in chapter 2.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vastunaḥof all matter
  2. mṛdusoftness
  3. kāṭhinyahardness
  4. laghulightness
  5. guruheaviness
  6. oṣṇawarmness
  7. śītatāmcoldness
  8. jighṛkṣataḥdesiring to perceive
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sarga · The creation of the universe

    Where does the universe come from? · Subject 1 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 2.10

    In this verse: “knowledge”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I give knowledge of the Self the importance I give knowledge of the body?

Practice

Lift a light object and notice what touch tells you, then reread the purport’s distinction between physical knowledge and knowledge of the Self.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPhysical Knowledge Is Not Self-KnowledgeThis 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 2.10.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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