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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
2.3.132.3.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.3.14

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śaunaka Ṛṣisince 2.3.13inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एतच्छुश्रूषतां विद्वन् सूत नोऽर्हसि भाषितुम् ।

कथा हरिकथोदर्का: सतां स्यु: सदसि ध्रुवम् ॥ १४ ॥

etac chuśrūṣatāṁ vidvan

sūta no ’rhasi bhāṣitum

kathā hari-kathodarkāḥ

satāṁ syuḥ sadasi dhruvam

Translation

O learned Sūta Gosvāmī! Please continue to explain such topics to us because we are all eager to hear. Besides that, topics which result in the discussion of the Lord Hari should certainly be discussed in the assembly of devotees.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Discuss the Lord’s Activities Among Devotees

  1. 1

    Even mundane things become transcendental when connected with the service of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Histories describing His activities are therefore transcendental literature.

  2. 2

    Topics about Lord Hari should be discussed in the assembly of devotees. In such association, these writings can be relished as more than ordinary histories or epics.

  3. 3

    The Lord is not ultimately impersonal: He is the Supreme Person, with His own activities. He descends by His personal energy to reclaim fallen souls.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore literatures like Mahābhārata, the Purāṇas and similar other literatures which are full of the pastimes of the Lord, are all transcendental literatures, and they should be discussed with full confidence in the society of great devotees.
  • Because such roles ultimately culminate in the discussion of topics of the Lord, all such preliminary topics are also transcendental.
  • Men have inclinations for studying history and many other mundane literatures — stories, fiction, dramas, magazines, newspapers, etc. — so let them be dovetailed with the transcendental service of the Lord, and all of them will turn to the topics relished by all devotees.

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

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. etatthis
  2. śuśrūṣatāmof those eager to hear
  3. vidvanO learned
  4. sūtaSūta Gosvāmī
  5. naḥunto us
  6. arhasimay you do it
  7. bhāṣitumjust to explain it
  8. kathāḥtopics
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

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 can my reading and conversations lead toward hearing about and serving Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Share one teaching about Lord Hari from today’s reading with a devotee and invite a brief discussion.

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 2 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 2 other lectures

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 todayDiscuss the Lord’s Activities Among DevoteesThis 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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