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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 5: The Cause of All Causes
2.5.162.5.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.5.17

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 2.5.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Brahmā → Nārada Muni

तस्यापि द्रष्टुरीशस्य कूटस्थस्याखिलात्मन: ।

सृज्यं सृजामि सृष्टोऽहमीक्षयैवाभिचोदित: ॥ १७ ॥

tasyāpi draṣṭur īśasya

kūṭa-sthasyākhilātmanaḥ

sṛjyaṁ sṛjāmi sṛṣṭo ’ham

īkṣayaivābhicoditaḥ

Translation

Inspired by Him only, I discover what is already created by Him [Nārāyaṇa] under His vision as the all-pervading Supersoul, and I also am created by Him only.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve Willingly Under the Lord’s Direction

  1. 1

    Brahmā admits that he creates only through Nārāyaṇa’s inspiration and supervision. He discovers what the Lord has already created.

  2. 2

    The Supersoul is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, while the individual soul is His eternal servitor. The Lord oversees every living being’s intelligence.

  3. 3

    Ability is awarded by the Lord according to one’s willingness to serve Him. Surrendered devotees do not act independently but await the Lord’s direction.

Key points from the purport
  • Even Brahmā, the creator of the universe, admits that he is not the actual creator but is simply inspired by the Lord Nārāyaṇa and therefore creates under His superintendence those things already created by Him, the Supersoul of all living entities.
  • Lord Brahmā is a great devotee of the Lord; therefore he has been empowered or inspired by the Lord to create such a universe as the one manifested before us.
  • The Lord also inspired Arjuna to fight in the field of Kurukṣetra as follows:

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 2.5.17 quotesBG 11.33

nimitta-mātraṁ bhava savyasācin. The Battle of Kurukṣetra, or any other battle at any place or at any time, is made by the will of the Lord, for no one can arrange such mass annihilation without the sanction of the Lord.

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 5: The Cause of All Causes

Nārada questions Brahmā, who explains his dependence on the Supreme Lord and describes creation.

Back to this verse in chapter 2.5
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasyaHis
  2. apicertainly
  3. draṣṭuḥof the seer
  4. īśasyaof the controller
  5. kūṭa-sthasyaof the one who is over everyone’s intelligence
  6. akhila-ātmanaḥof the Supersoul
  7. sṛjyamthat which is already created
  8. sṛjāmido I discover
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.5

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 2.5

    In this verse: “surrendered”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I use an ability I have in a spirit of willing service rather than independent achievement?

Practice

Before one task today, offer a brief prayer expressing your willingness to serve the Lord through your abilities.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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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 2.5's connections

Live this todayServe Willingly Under the Lord’s DirectionThis 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 2.5.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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