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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
2.10.472.10.49-50

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.10.48

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 2.10.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

शौनक उवाच

यदाह नो भवान् सूत क्षत्ता भागवतोत्तम: ।

चचार तीर्थानि भुवस्त्यक्त्वा बन्धून् सुदुस्त्यजान् ॥ ४८ ॥

śaunaka uvāca

yad āha no bhavān sūta

kṣattā bhāgavatottamaḥ

cacāra tīrthāni bhuvas

tyaktvā bandhūn sudustyajān

Translation

Śaunaka Ṛṣi, after hearing all about the creation, inquired from Sūta Gosvāmī about Vidura, for Sūta Gosvāmī had previously informed him how Vidura left home, leaving aside all his relatives, who were very difficult to leave.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Eagerness to Hear About Vidura

  1. 1

    After hearing about creation, Śaunaka Ṛṣi asked Sūta Gosvāmī about Vidura. He returned to a subject that Sūta Gosvāmī had mentioned earlier.

  2. 2

    Vidura had left home and his relatives, though they were very difficult to leave. Śaunaka Ṛṣi wanted to hear more about him.

  3. 3

    The ṛṣis headed by Śaunaka were especially eager to hear about Vidura. While traveling to places of pilgrimage, Vidura had met Maitreya Ṛṣi.

Key points from the purport
  • The ṛṣis headed by Śaunaka were more anxious to know about Vidura, who met Maitreya Ṛṣi while traveling to the pilgrimage sites of the world.

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. śaunakaḥ uvācaŚrī Śaunaka Muni said
  2. yatas
  3. āhayou said
  4. naḥunto us
  5. bhavānyour good self
  6. sūtaO Sūta
  7. kṣattāVidura
  8. bhāgavata-uttamaḥone of the topmost devotees of the Lord
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “inquired”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 2.10

    In this verse: “hearing”

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

What would you like to understand about Vidura’s leaving home and meeting Maitreya Ṛṣi?

Practice

Write one question about Vidura that you would like to keep in mind as you continue reading.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 2.10's connections

Live this todayEagerness to Hear About ViduraThis 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 2.10.48? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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