1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 2 · The Cosmic Manifestation · 10 chapters

12345678910

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
2.4.132.4.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.4.14

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 2.4.12inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नमो नमस्तेऽस्त्वृषभाय सात्वतां

विदूरकाष्ठाय मुहु: कुयोगिनाम् ।

निरस्तसाम्यातिशयेन राधसा

स्वधामनि ब्रह्मणि रंस्यते नम: ॥ १४ ॥

namo namas te ’stv ṛṣabhāya sātvatāṁ

vidūra-kāṣṭhāya muhuḥ kuyoginām

nirasta-sāmyātiśayena rādhasā

sva-dhāmani brahmaṇi raṁsyate namaḥ

Translation

Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Him who is the associate of the members of the Yadu dynasty and who is always a problem for the nondevotees. He is the supreme enjoyer of both the material and spiritual worlds, yet He enjoys His own abode in the spiritual sky. There is no one equal to Him because His transcendental opulence is immeasurable.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Supreme Lord Is His Devotees’ Companion

  1. 1

    Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Lord, yet He becomes the constant companion of His pure devotees. Those absorbed in material understanding remain far from Him.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s spiritual opulence is immeasurable, and His abode, Goloka Vṛndāvana, is beyond the material sky. His spiritual planets are self-illuminating and need no sunlight, moonlight or electricity.

  3. 3

    Devotees seek the Lord’s personal form rather than merely His impersonal brahmajyoti. Devotional service, or bhakti-yoga, is the actual principle of religion.

Key points from the purport
  • As the sun rays are concentrated in the sun disc, the brahmajyoti is concentrated in Goloka Vṛndāvana, the topmost spiritual planet in the spiritual sky.
  • They have no qualifications for becoming associates of the Lord either in the Vaikuṇṭha planets or in the supreme planet, Goloka Vṛndāvana, described in the Bhagavad-gītā as mad-dhāma and here in this verse as the sva-dhāma of the Lord.
  • The Vaikuṇṭha planets and the Goloka Vṛndāvana planet are all self-illuminating, and the rays scattered by those sva-dhāma of the Lord constitute the existence of the brahmajyoti.

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 2.4.14 quotesBG 15.6

This mad-dhāma or sva-dhāma is described in the Bhagavad-gītā (15.6) as follows: The Lord’s sva-dhāma does not require any sunlight or moonlight or electricity for illumination.

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. namaḥ namaḥ telet me offer my obeisances unto You
  2. astuare
  3. ṛṣabhāyaunto the great associate
  4. sātvatāmof the members of the Yadu dynasty
  5. vidūra-kāṣṭhāyaone who is far from mundane wranglers
  6. muhuḥalways
  7. ku-yogināmof the nondevotees
  8. nirastavanquished
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 2.4

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.4

    In this verse: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 2.4

    In this verse: “understanding”

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

What draws me toward knowing and serving Kṛṣṇa personally?

Practice

Offer a short prayer asking the Lord to protect you and help you serve His personal form.

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 todayThe Supreme Lord Is His Devotees’ CompanionThis 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 2.4.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories