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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
2.4.82.4.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.4.9

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Parīkṣitsince 2.4.5inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यथा गुणांस्तु प्रकृतेर्युगपत् क्रमशोऽपि वा ।

बिभर्ति भूरिशस्त्वेक: कुर्वन् कर्माणि जन्मभि: ॥ ९ ॥

yathā guṇāṁs tu prakṛter

yugapat kramaśo ’pi vā

bibharti bhūriśas tv ekaḥ

kurvan karmāṇi janmabhiḥ

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is one, whether He alone acts with the modes of material nature, or simultaneously expands in many forms, or expands consecutively to direct the modes of nature.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Supreme Lord Remains One

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is one, even when He acts alone with the modes of material nature.

  2. 2

    He can expand simultaneously into many forms. These expansions do not change His oneness.

  3. 3

    He can also expand consecutively to direct the modes of nature. In all these activities, He remains the one Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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. yathāas they are
  2. guṇānthe modes of
  3. tubut
  4. prakṛteḥof the material energy
  5. yugapatsimultaneously
  6. kramaśaḥgradually
  7. apialso
  8. vāeither
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • 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 does this verse help you understand unity within the Lord’s many forms?

Practice

Read the translation aloud once, then restate in your own words how the Lord remains one while expanding.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Remains OneThis 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 2.4.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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