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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

2.3.16 2.3.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.3.17

Nirodha· Winding up

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śaunaka Ṛṣisince 2.3.13inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

आयुर्हरति वै पुंसामुद्यन्नस्तं च यन्नसौ ।

तस्यर्ते यत्क्षणो नीत उत्तमश्लोकवार्तया ॥ १७ ॥

āyur harati vai puṁsām

udyann astaṁ ca yann asau

tasyarte yat-kṣaṇo nīta

uttama-śloka-vārtayā

Translation

Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone, except one who utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Precious Time for Devotional Service

1
Even a fraction of life wasted cannot be recovered by any amount of gold. Human life is meant for realizing our spiritual identity and relationship with the Supreme Lord.
2
The Lord’s name, form, qualities and pastimes are identical with Him. Contact with Him through devotional service opens the door to perfection, and even a slight beginning is never lost.
3
Hearing and chanting the Lord’s messages in pure devotees’ association prepares life for eternity. The sun cannot rob such service of its eternal value, even though a devotee may experience old age or disease.

Key points from the purport

And thus the sun fails to rob the pure devotee of his duration of life, inasmuch as he is constantly busy in the devotional service of the Lord, purifying his existence.
If the money is given in charity to a non- brāhmaṇa (without brahminical qualification) the money is returned in the next life in the same proportion.
In other words, a devotee of the Lord is guaranteed eternal life.

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· 3

The purport of SB 2.3.17 quotesBG 2.40

In the Bhagavad-gītā (2.40) the Lord has explained such contact in the following words: “Endeavors in devotional service are never baffled.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.27.13

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.3.17), āyur harati vai puṁsām udyann astaṁ ca yann asau.

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 2.31

In this connection, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura quotes the following verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.3.17-24):

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

āyuḥduration of life
haratidecreases
vaicertainly
puṁsāmof the people
udyanrising
astamsetting
caalso
yanmoving

Key ideas in this verse

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

Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead
What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.3
In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees’”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 2.3
In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What part of my day could I use to renew my relationship with the Lord?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to hear a pure devotee discuss the Lord’s transcendental messages.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

1 lecture given on it · quoted in 4 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

SB 2.3.1712 Jun 1972 · Los AngelesListen

Quoted in 4 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 todayUse Precious Time for Devotional ServiceThis 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 2.3.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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