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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
2.4.122.4.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.4.13

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 2.4.12inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

भूयो नम: सद्वृजिनच्छिदेऽसता-

मसम्भवायाखिलसत्त्वमूर्तये ।

पुंसां पुन: पारमहंस्य आश्रमे

व्यवस्थितानामनुमृग्यदाशुषे ॥ १३ ॥

bhūyo namaḥ sad-vṛjina-cchide ’satām

asambhavāyākhila-sattva-mūrtaye

puṁsāṁ punaḥ pāramahaṁsya āśrame

vyavasthitānām anumṛgya-dāśuṣe

Translation

I again offer my respectful obeisances unto the form of complete existence and transcendence, who is the liberator of the pious devotees from all distresses and the destroyer of the further advances in atheistic temperament of the nondevotee-demons. For the transcendentalists who are situated in the topmost spiritual perfection, He grants their specific destinations.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Service Is the Highest Destination

  1. 1

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, has a transcendental form, not a material one. Impersonal Brahman is simply the rays of His transcendental body.

  2. 2

    The Lord mercifully delivers His devotees from distress and checks the harmful activities of nondevotees. Like a kind father, He is kind both in His protection and in His punishment.

  3. 3

    The highest destination is bhakti-yoga, the transcendental loving service of the Lord. Although He grants both impersonalists and devotees their desired destinations, those who seek loving service are more fortunate.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the complete form of all existence, both material and spiritual.
  • Therefore the form of the Lord is not of the inferior, material nature.
  • The devotees, who are aware of His transcendental form, render Him service; therefore the Lord also reciprocates by His causeless mercy and thus delivers His devotees from all distresses.

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 2.4.13 quotesBG 4.11

In the Bhagavad-gītā (4.11) He has assured everyone: ye yathā māṁ prapadyante.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhūyaḥagain
  2. namaḥmy obeisances
  3. satof the devotees or the pious
  4. vṛjinadistresses
  5. chidethe liberator
  6. asatāmof the atheists, the nondevotee-demons
  7. asambhavāyacessation of further unhappiness
  8. akhilacomplete
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 2.4

    In this verse: “distresses”, “distress”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 2.4

    In this verse: “mercifully”

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

Am I seeking only relief from distress, or also the opportunity to serve Kṛṣṇa with love?

Practice

Offer respectful obeisances to Kṛṣṇa today and ask for the opportunity to render Him loving service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

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 todayLoving Service Is the Highest DestinationThis 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 2.4.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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