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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

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 4: The Process of Creation

2.4.17 2.4.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.4.18

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

किरातहूणान्ध्रपुलिन्दपुल्कशा

आभीरशुम्भा यवना: खसादय: ।

येऽन्ये च पापा यदपाश्रयाश्रया:

शुध्यन्ति तस्मै प्रभविष्णवे नम: ॥ १८ ॥

kirāta-hūṇāndhra-pulinda-pulkaśā

ābhīra-śumbhā yavanāḥ khasādayaḥ

ye ’nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ

śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ

Translation

Kirāta, Hūṇa, Āndhra, Pulinda, Pulkaśa, Ābhīra, Śumbha, Yavana, members of the Khasa races and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, due to His being the supreme power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Everyone Can Take Shelter of the Lord

1
There is no bar against anyone’s advancing in God realization. Even a person deeply engaged in sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of a pure devotee of the Lord.
2
A Vaiṣṇava accepts disciples without consideration of caste or creed and guides them in devotional service. A pure Vaiṣṇava should never be judged on the basis of birth.
3
Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is all-powerful and can accept anyone from any part of the world. Glorifying His holy name can bring a tremendous change of heart, leading toward devotional service and returning home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport

Pulinda: It is mentioned in the Mahābhārata (Ādi-parva 174.38), viz., the inhabitants of the province of the name Pulinda.
The Greeks are known as Pulindas, and it is mentioned in the Vana-parva of Mahābhārata that the non-Vedic race of this part of the world would rule over the world.
If the politicians, therefore, would be guided by the good counsel of the devotees, then certainly there would be a great change in the world situation by the purifying propaganda of the devotees, as shown by Lord Caitanya.

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· 5

The purport of SB 2.4.18 quotesBG 9.32

In the Bhagavad-gītā (9.32) it is said by the Lord that there is no bar to becoming a devotee of the Lord (even for those who are lowborn, or women, śūdras or vaiśyas), and by becoming a devotee everyone is eligible to return home, back to Godhead.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.30.41

This is confirmed by Śukadeva Gosvāmī: ye ’nye ca pāpā yad-apāśrayāśrayāḥ śudhyanti tasmai prabhaviṣṇave namaḥ.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 6.12.20

Therefore Śukadeva Gosvāmī says in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.18): “Kirātas, Hūṇas, Āndhras, Pulindas, Pulkaśas, Ābhīras, Śumbhas, Yavanas and members of the Khasa races, and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, for He is the supreme power.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 6.13.8-9

As confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.18): “Kirātas, Hūṇas, Āndhras, Pulindas, Pulkaśas, Ābhīras, Śumbhas, Yavanas, members of the Khasa races, and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of devotees of the Lord, for He is the supreme power.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 9.19.24

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.18): “Kirāta, Hūṇa, Āndhra, Pulinda, Pulkaśa, Ābhīra, Śumbha, Yavana and the Khasa races and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord, for He is the supreme power.

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

kirātaa province of old Bhārata
hūṇapart of Germany and Russia
āndhraa province of southern India
pulindathe Greeks
pulkaśāḥanother province
ābhīrapart of old Sind
śumbhāḥanother province
yavanāḥthe Turks

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”, “devotional service”, “devotee”
Śuddhi · Inner transformation
The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 2.4
In this verse: “purified”, “sinful”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 2.4
In this verse: “glorifying”, “holy name”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I become more open to the guidance of pure devotees without judging anyone by birth or background?

Practice

Spend one minute today glorifying Kṛṣṇa’s holy name, remembering that His shelter is open to everyone.

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.

Quoted in 58 lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 58 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.

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 todayEveryone Can Take Shelter of the LordThis 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 2.4.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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