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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
2.10.32.10.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.10.4

Sthāna· The universe in order
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 2.10.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स्थितिर्वैकुण्ठविजय: पोषणं तदनुग्रह: ।

मन्वन्तराणि सद्धर्म ऊतय: कर्मवासना: ॥ ४ ॥

sthitir vaikuṇṭha-vijayaḥ

poṣaṇaṁ tad-anugrahaḥ

manvantarāṇi sad-dharma

ūtayaḥ karma-vāsanāḥ

Translation

The right situation for the living entities is to obey the laws of the Lord and thus be in perfect peace of mind under the protection of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Manus and their laws are meant to give right direction in life. The impetus for activity is the desire for fruitive work.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Gives Life Right Direction

  1. 1

    The material world is created, maintained and annihilated by the Lord’s will. Conditioned souls should acknowledge His supremacy, become pure devotees and live peacefully under His protection.

  2. 2

    The creation is not false, but temporary, giving conditioned souls a chance to go back to Godhead. The guidance of the Manus and the revealed scriptures helps human beings use this chance.

  3. 3

    Sad-dharma means duty performed for going back to Godhead and becoming His unalloyed devotee. Devotional service is the right direction of life, whereas work for personal rewards binds one to fruitive reactions.

Key points from the purport
  • The conditioned souls, who take this material creation as the place for satisfaction of the senses and thus are illusioned by the external energy of Viṣṇu, remain again to be subjected to the laws of material nature, creation and destruction.
  • Being illusioned by the external energy, they thus become engaged in various types of economic and religious development, forgetting that they are meant for going back home, back to Godhead.
  • One’s aim of life should be to go back home, back to Godhead, and not be subjected to repeated births and deaths in the material world by getting good or bad bodies for temporary existence.

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. sthitiḥthe right situation
  2. vaikuṇṭha-vijayaḥthe victory of the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha
  3. poṣaṇammaintenance
  4. tat-anugrahaḥHis causeless mercy
  5. manvantarāṇithe reign of the Manus
  6. sat-dharmaḥperfect occupational duty
  7. ūtayaḥimpetus to work
  8. karma-vāsanāḥdesire for fruitive work
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.10

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 2.10

    In this verse: “protection”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.10

    In this verse: “material”

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

Is your main aim to secure a permanent place here, or to prepare to go back to Godhead?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today for devotional service, consciously making return to Godhead your aim.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Gives Life Right DirectionThis 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 2.10.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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