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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
2.10.72.10.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.10.8

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

योऽध्यात्मिकोऽयं पुरुष: सोऽसावेवाधिदैविक: ।

यस्तत्रोभयविच्छेद: पुरुषो ह्याधिभौतिक: ॥ ८ ॥

yo ’dhyātmiko ’yaṁ puruṣaḥ

so ’sāv evādhidaivikaḥ

yas tatrobhaya-vicchedaḥ

puruṣo hy ādhibhautikaḥ

Translation

The individual person possessing different instruments of senses is called the adhyātmic person, and the individual controlling deity of the senses is called adhidaivic. The embodiment seen on the eyeballs is called the adhibhautic person.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Supreme Person Shelters Everyone

  1. 1

    The person possessing the senses is called adhyātmic, and the controlling deity is called adhidaivic. The material body that distinguishes controller and controlled is called adhibhautic.

  2. 2

    Our senses depend on superior controlling deities; for example, sight depends on light and the sun. Every living entity is ultimately subject to Paramātmā, who places beings in different positions according to their fruitive activities.

  3. 3

    Bodies differ and depend on food, but the living beings within them are spiritual parts and parcels of the Supreme Being. Paramātmā is a manifestation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and the Supreme Person is the shelter of all.

Key points from the purport
  • Similarly, each and every individual in the material world is controlled by the higher demigods.
  • The controlled living entity is called the adhyātmic person, and the controller is called the adhidaivic person.
  • So every individual living entity is subject to the supreme control of the Paramātmā, who puts everyone in different positions of the controller and the controlled.

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 2.10.8 quotesBG 10.42

In the Bhagavad-gītā (10.42) it is said: All the controlling deities like Viṣṇu, Brahmā and Śiva are different manifestations of the Paramātmā feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who exhibits himself in such manners by entering into each and every universe generated from Him.

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

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. yaḥone who
  2. adhyātmikaḥis possessed of the sense organs
  3. ayamthis
  4. puruṣaḥpersonality
  5. saḥhe
  6. asauthat
  7. evaalso
  8. adhidaivikaḥcontrolling deity
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 2.10

    In this verse: “shelter”

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 does your dependence on light for seeing teach you about your own independence?

Practice

Notice today how your sight depends on light, and pause to remember the Supreme Person as the shelter of both controller and controlled.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Supreme Person Shelters EveryoneThis 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 2.10.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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