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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 4: The Process of Creation
2.3.252.4.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.4.1

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 2.4.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सूत उवाच

वैयासकेरिति वचस्तत्त्वनिश्चयमात्मन: ।

उपधार्य मतिं कृष्णे औत्तरेय: सतीं व्यधात् ॥ १ ॥

sūta uvāca

vaiyāsaker iti vacas

tattva-niścayam ātmanaḥ

upadhārya matiṁ kṛṣṇe

auttareyaḥ satīṁ vyadhāt

Translation

Sūta Gosvāmī said: Mahārāja Parīkṣit, the son of Uttarā, after hearing the speeches of Śukadeva Gosvāmī, which were all about the truth of the self, applied his concentration faithfully upon Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Faithful Hearing Deepens Devotion to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    The purpose of Vedic knowledge is to draw our attention entirely to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, without diversion. The word satīm describes Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s faithful, undivided concentration.

  2. 2

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit received both birth in a family of devotees and the blessings of a bona fide spiritual master. By the mercy of the spiritual master and Lord Kṛṣṇa, a fortunate person receives the path of devotional service.

  3. 3

    Hearing from Śukadeva Gosvāmī strengthened the King’s natural affection for Kṛṣṇa. Hearing from a bona fide spiritual master helped him concentrate his mind still more firmly upon the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • By the grace of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Parīkṣit Mahārāja had both opportunities.
  • Consequently Lord Kṛṣṇa gave the King a further chance for development in devotional service by introducing him to Śukadeva Gosvāmī, a stalwart devotee of the Lord with perfect knowledge in self-realization.
  • And by hearing from a bona fide spiritual master, he was perfectly able to concentrate his chaste mind further upon Lord Kṛṣṇa, as a matter of course.

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 2.4.1 quotesBG 15.15

The whole Vedic adventure is to draw one’s attention entirely unto the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa without any diversion, as instructed in the Bhagavad-gītā (15.15).

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

Uncertainty → Awe. The scale of reality widens dramatically.

Chapters 4–7 of Canto 2: The creation, cosmic Person and incarnations. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 4: The Process of Creation

Parīkṣit fixes his mind on Kṛṣṇa and asks about creation; Śukadeva offers prayers before answering.

Back to this verse in chapter 2.4
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sūtaḥ uvācaSūta Gosvāmī said
  2. vaiyāsakeḥof Śukadeva Gosvāmī
  3. itithus
  4. vacaḥspeeches
  5. tattva-niścayamthat which verifies the truth
  6. ātmanaḥin the self
  7. upadhāryajust having realized
  8. matimconcentration of the mind
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.4

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 2.4

    In this verse: “mercy”, “blessings”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 2.4

    In this verse: “hearing”

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 give more undivided attention to hearing about Lord Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Reread this translation slowly, then spend one quiet minute concentrating your mind on Lord Kṛṣṇa.

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.

7

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 2.4's connections

Live this todayFaithful Hearing Deepens Devotion to KṛṣṇaThis 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 2.4.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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