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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
2.3.242.4.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.3.25

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

अथाभिधेह्यङ्ग मनोऽनुकूलं

प्रभाषसे भागवतप्रधान: ।

यदाह वैयासकिरात्मविद्या-

विशारदो नृपतिं साधु पृष्ट: ॥ २५ ॥

athābhidhehy aṅga mano-’nukūlaṁ

prabhāṣase bhāgavata-pradhānaḥ

yad āha vaiyāsakir ātma-vidyā-

viśārado nṛpatiṁ sādhu pṛṣṭaḥ

Translation

O Sūta Gosvāmī, your words are pleasing to our minds. Please therefore explain this to us as it was spoken by the great devotee Śukadeva Gosvāmī, who is very expert in transcendental knowledge, and who spoke to Mahārāja Parīkṣit upon being asked.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear Knowledge Faithfully Passed Down

  1. 1

    The listeners find Sūta Gosvāmī’s words pleasing and ask him to explain further. They want to hear what Śukadeva Gosvāmī spoke to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

  2. 2

    Śukadeva Gosvāmī is described as a great devotee expert in transcendental knowledge. The request honors both his knowledge and his devotional standing.

  3. 3

    Knowledge explained by a previous ācārya and faithfully followed by the next remains powerful transcendental knowledge. It is penetrating and useful to submissive students.

Key points from the purport
  • Knowledge explained by the previous ācārya like Śukadeva Gosvāmī and followed by the next like Sūta Gosvāmī is always powerful transcendental knowledge, and it is therefore penetrating and useful to all submissive students.
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Second Canto, Third Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Pure Devotional Service: The Change in Heart.”

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. athatherefore
  2. abhidhehiplease explain
  3. aṅgaO Sūta Gosvāmī
  4. manaḥmind
  5. anukūlamfavorable to our mentality
  6. prabhāṣaseyou do speak
  7. bhāgavatathe great devotee
  8. pradhānaḥthe chief
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: “devotee”, “devotional”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 2.3

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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 I approach this teaching as a more submissive and attentive student?

Practice

Reread this verse and purport slowly, then write down one teaching you want to receive with greater humility.

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 todayHear Knowledge Faithfully Passed DownThis 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 2.3.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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