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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

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 10: Bhāgavatam Is the Answer to All Questions

2.10.24 2.10.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.10.25

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

गतिं जिगीषत: पादौ रुरुहातेऽभिकामिकाम् ।

पद्‍भ्यां यज्ञ: स्वयं हव्यं कर्मभि: क्रियते नृभि: ॥ २५ ॥

gatiṁ jigīṣataḥ pādau

ruruhāte ’bhikāmikām

padbhyāṁ yajñaḥ svayaṁ havyaṁ

karmabhiḥ kriyate nṛbhiḥ

Translation

Thereupon, because of His desiring to control movement, His legs became manifested, and from the legs the controlling deity named Viṣṇu was generated. By His personal supervision of this act, all varieties of human being are busily engaged in dutiful occupational sacrifice.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Make Your Work Service to the Lord

1
The legs and their controlling deity, Viṣṇu, appeared for purposeful movement. Human movement and occupational duties are meant for sacrifice.
2
Work aimed only at wealth, comfort and uncontrolled sense gratification does not bring the desired peace. Forgetting the Supreme Lord leaves human activity without its true purpose.
3
One can attain life’s highest perfection by worshiping the Supreme Lord through occupational duty. Work and its results should serve Him under the guidance of authorities expert in transcendental loving service.

Key points from the purport

Because they have been captivated by the external energy of the Supreme Lord, they have completely forgotten the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, and thus they have taken it for granted that this life, as presently manifested under the conditions of material nature, is all in all for enjoying the highest amount of sense gratification.
Man can attain the highest perfection of life by worshiping the Supreme Lord and by performing sacrifice for the sake of the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, who is all-pervading and by whose control every living being acquires his desired facilities, according to his personal propensity.”
For performing such occupational duties of life the leg is the most important instrument of the body because without the help of the legs one cannot move from one place to another, and therefore the Lord has special control over the legs of all human beings, which are meant for performing yajñas.

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· 1

The purport of SB 2.10.25 quotesBG 18.45

The Bhagavad-gītā (18.45-46) also advises the same secret in the following verses.

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

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

gatimmovement
jigīṣataḥso desiring
pādauthe legs
ruruhātebeing manifested
abhikāmikāmpurposeful
padbhyāmfrom the legs
yajñaḥLord Viṣṇu
svayampersonally Himself

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
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.10
In this verse: “sense gratification”, “wealth”
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 2.10
In this verse: “duty”, “duties”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.10
In this verse: “worshiping”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How could my daily work serve the Supreme Lord rather than only my comfort?

Practice

Choose one duty today and begin it with the intention of serving the Supreme Lord rather than merely gaining personal comfort.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMake Your Work Service to 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 2.10.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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