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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
2.4.212.4.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.4.22

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

प्रचोदिता येन पुरा सरस्वती

वितन्वताजस्य सतीं स्मृतिं हृदि ।

स्वलक्षणा प्रादुरभूत् किलास्यत:

स मे ऋषीणामृषभ: प्रसीदताम् ॥ २२ ॥

pracoditā yena purā sarasvatī

vitanvatājasya satīṁ smṛtiṁ hṛdi

sva-lakṣaṇā prādurabhūt kilāsyataḥ

sa me ṛṣīṇām ṛṣabhaḥ prasīdatām

Translation

May the Lord, who in the beginning of the creation amplified the potent knowledge of Brahmā from within his heart and inspired him with full knowledge of creation and of His own Self, and who appeared to be generated from the mouth of Brahmā, be pleased with me.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Awakens Knowledge Within the Heart

  1. 1

    The Lord, as the Supersoul, gives living beings knowledge from within the heart. This awakening is under His control, not an automatic material interaction.

  2. 2

    Even Brahmā depends on the Lord for knowledge and the power to create. Neither Brahmā nor material nature is independent of Him.

  3. 3

    Transcendental knowledge descends from the Lord through authorized disciplic succession, or paramparā. Śukadeva Gosvāmī prays for the Lord’s inspiration so that he can explain creation rightly.

Key points from the purport
  • As we have already discussed hereinbefore, the Lord, as the Supersoul of all living beings from Brahmā to the insignificant ant, endows all with the required knowledge potent in every living being.
  • This potent knowledge is again inspired by the Lord from within the heart of every living being, and it is known as the awakening of knowledge, for it is comparable to awakening from sleep or unconsciousness.
  • Brahmā is undoubtedly the speaker of the Vedic knowledge, but actually he was inspired by the Lord to receive such transcendental knowledge, as it directly descends from the Lord.

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

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 8.265

This is confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.22):

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. pracoditāinspired
  2. yenaby whom
  3. purāin the beginning of creation
  4. sarasvatīthe goddess of learning
  5. vitanvatāamplified
  6. ajasyaof Brahmā, the first created living being
  7. satīm smṛtimpotent memory
  8. hṛdiin the heart
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 might remembering that knowledge comes from the Lord make my study more humble?

Practice

Before studying today, offer a short prayer asking the Lord to help you understand the knowledge received through disciplic succession.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Awakens Knowledge Within the HeartThis 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 2.4.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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