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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 3: Pure Devotional Service: The Change in Heart
2.3.112.3.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.3.12

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 2.3.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ज्ञानं यदाप्रतिनिवृत्तगुणोर्मिचक्र -

मात्मप्रसाद उत यत्र गुणेष्वसङ्ग: ।

कैवल्यसम्मतपथस्त्वथ भक्तियोग:

को निर्वृतो हरिकथासु रतिं न कुर्यात् ॥ १२ ॥

jñānaṁ yad āpratinivṛtta-guṇormi-cakram

ātma-prasāda uta yatra guṇeṣv asaṅgaḥ

kaivalya-sammata-pathas tv atha bhakti-yogaḥ

ko nirvṛto hari-kathāsu ratiṁ na kuryāt

Translation

Transcendental knowledge in relation with the Supreme Lord Hari is knowledge resulting in the complete suspension of the waves and whirlpools of the material modes. Such knowledge is self-satisfying due to its being free from material attachment, and being transcendental it is approved by authorities. Who could fail to be attracted?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hearing About Hari Brings Lasting Satisfaction

  1. 1

    Bhakti-yoga, devotional service, is the only means of God realization. Transcendental bliss can be experienced even during practice under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master.

  2. 2

    This path begins with hearing topics about the Personality of Godhead. Such hearing brings transcendental knowledge and detachment from mundane topics.

  3. 3

    Devotional service brings self-satisfaction beyond the agitation of the material modes. Even mundane activities become transcendental when connected with service for the Lord’s satisfaction.

Key points from the purport
  • The complete functional activities of a pure devotee are always engaged in the service of the Lord, and thus the pure devotees exchange feelings of ecstasy between themselves and relish transcendental bliss.
  • The first-class devotee of the Lord attains this stage by devotional service, but despite his loftiness, for the Lord’s satisfaction he may play the voluntary part of a preacher of the Lord’s glory and dovetail all into devotional service, even mundane interest, just to give the neophytes a chance to transform mundane interest into transcendental bliss.
  • Even mundane activities dovetailed with service to the Lord are also calculated to be transcendental or approved kaivalya affairs.

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 2.3.12 quotesBG 10.9

According to Bhagavad-gītā (10.9) the characteristics of pure devotees are wonderful.

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

Death anxiety → Steady attention. The answer to mortality begins with spiritual focus.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 2: The practice of hearing, remembering and devotion. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: Pure Devotional Service: The Change in Heart

Everyone should worship the Supreme Lord and engage the senses in devotion that changes the heart.

Back to this verse in chapter 2.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. jñānamknowledge
  2. yatthat which
  3. āup to the limit of
  4. pratinivṛttacompletely withdrawn
  5. guṇa-ūrmithe waves of the material modes
  6. cakramwhirlpool
  7. ātma-prasādaḥself-satisfaction
  8. utamoreover
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.3

    In this verse: “attachment”, “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 2.3

    In this verse: “free from”, “detachment”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.3

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “bhakti-yoga”

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

How could I connect one of my ordinary interests with service to the Lord?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to hear or read topics about Lord Hari with attention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 other lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayHearing About Hari Brings Lasting SatisfactionThis 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.

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