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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
2.4.222.4.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.4.23

Sarga· Creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 2.4.12inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

भूतैर्महद्भिर्य इमा: पुरो विभु-

र्निर्माय शेते यदमूषु पूरुष: ।

भुङ्क्ते गुणान् षोडश षोडशात्मक:

सोऽलङ्‌कृषीष्ट भगवान् वचांसि मे ॥ २३ ॥

bhūtair mahadbhir ya imāḥ puro vibhur

nirmāya śete yad amūṣu pūruṣaḥ

bhuṅkte guṇān ṣoḍaśa ṣoḍaśātmakaḥ

so ’laṅkṛṣīṣṭa bhagavān vacāṁsi me

Translation

May the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who enlivens the materially created bodies of the elements by lying down within the universe, and who in His puruṣa incarnation causes the living being to be subjected to the sixteen divisions of material modes which are his generator, be pleased to decorate my statements.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve as an Instrument of the Lord

  1. 1

    A devotee sees himself as an instrument and does not claim credit for successful work. Śukadeva Gosvāmī asks the Supreme Personality of Godhead to make his statements successful and helpful to his hearers.

  2. 2

    The source of all truths is the Supreme Spirit, not gross matter. The beautiful arrangement of material creation is made possible by the Lord’s energy and His presence as Paramātmā.

  3. 3

    Vedic knowledge is explained through the descending process of paramparā, not through self-appointed interpretation. Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks as a humble devotional servant and asks for mercy for both himself and his hearers.

Key points from the purport
  • Śukadeva Gosvāmī therefore wants to move by the direction of the Supreme Lord, who inspired Brahmā to speak the Vedic wisdom.
  • We get information from the Vedic literature that the Lord Himself first entered the vacuum of the material universe, and thus all things gradually developed one after another.
  • The beautiful arrangement behind all material manifestations is therefore made possible by the energy of the Lord, and the individual living entity can only pray to the Lord to understand it properly.

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 2.4.23 quotesBG 15.15

As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (15.15), the Lord is Himself the father of the Vedānta knowledge, and it is He only who knows the factual purport of the Vedānta philosophy.

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. bhūtaiḥby the elements
  2. mahadbhiḥof material creation
  3. yaḥHe who
  4. imāḥall these
  5. puraḥbodies
  6. vibhuḥof the Lord
  7. nirmāyafor being set up
  8. śetelie down
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sarga · The creation of the universe

    Where does the universe come from? · Subject 1 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “materially”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional”, “devotee”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 2.4

    In this verse: “mercy”

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

When something goes well, do I remember my dependence on the Lord?

Practice

Before explaining something to another person today, pray that your words may serve the Lord and genuinely help your listener.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServe as an Instrument 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.

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