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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
2.4.72.4.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.4.8

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Parīkṣitsince 2.4.5inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नूनं भगवतो ब्रह्मन् हरेरद्भुतकर्मण: ।

दुर्विभाव्यमिवाभाति कविभिश्चापि चेष्टितम् ॥ ८ ॥

nūnaṁ bhagavato brahman

harer adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ

durvibhāvyam ivābhāti

kavibhiś cāpi ceṣṭitam

Translation

O learned brāhmaṇa, the transcendental activities of the Lord are all wonderful, and they appear inconceivable because even great endeavors by many learned scholars have still proved insufficient for understanding them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Receive Knowledge of the Unlimited Lord

  1. 1

    The innumerable material universes are only a fractional portion of the Lord’s creation. The greater spiritual world, Vaikuṇṭha, is eternal and is never created or annihilated.

  2. 2

    The Lord has no creator and is the origin of all. His activities are unlimited, so imperfect senses and limited knowledge cannot fully comprehend Him.

  3. 3

    Knowledge of the Lord descends through His own teachings and realized souls in disciplic succession, not through experiments. Those who worship Lord Kṛṣṇa will live with Him.

Key points from the purport
  • The acts of the Supreme Lord, in the creation of just this one universe, appear inconceivably wonderful.
  • Even for the insignificant part of His creation, this particular universe, they have no complete information as to how far this limited space extends, or how many stars and planets are there, or the different conditions of those innumerable planets.
  • Mahārāja Parīkṣit, being a great emperor, a descendant of the Pāṇḍavas and a great devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa, was quite able to know considerably about the creation of the world, but that much knowledge was not sufficient.

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 2.4.8 quotesBG 9.25

One has to prepare himself, therefore, to be transferred to a different planet after being relieved of the present body, as it is said in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.25): “Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods, those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings, and those who worship Me will live with Me.”

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. nūnamstill insufficient
  2. bhagavataḥof the Personality of Godhead
  3. brahmanO learned brāhmaṇa
  4. hareḥof the Lord
  5. adbhutawonderful
  6. karmaṇaḥone who acts
  7. durvibhāvyaminconceivable
  8. ivalike that
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understanding”, “knowledge”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”

  • 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 can you approach the Lord’s teachings with greater humility about the limits of your knowledge?

Practice

Reread one passage of this purport slowly, seeking to receive its teaching rather than measure the Lord by your own experience.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReceive Knowledge of the Unlimited 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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