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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.
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Canto 2 · Chapter 5: The Cause of All Causes
2.5.212.5.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.5.22

Sarga· 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

कालाद् गुणव्यतिकर: परिणाम: स्वभावत: ।

कर्मणो जन्म महत: पुरुषाधिष्ठितादभूत् ॥ २२ ॥

kālād guṇa-vyatikaraḥ

pariṇāmaḥ svabhāvataḥ

karmaṇo janma mahataḥ

puruṣādhiṣṭhitād abhūt

Translation

After the incarnation of the first puruṣa [Kāraṇārṇavaśāyī Viṣṇu], the mahat-tattva, or the principles of material creation, take place, and then time is manifested, and in course of time the three qualities appear. Nature means the three qualitative appearances. They transform into activities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

All Transformations Originate in the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Following the first puruṣa incarnation, Kāraṇārṇavaśāyī Viṣṇu, the mahat-tattva, or principles of material creation, becomes manifest. Time and the three qualities then appear, leading to activities.

  2. 2

    By the Supreme Lord’s omnipotency, material creation develops through successive transformations and reactions. By that same power, it is withdrawn step by step and conserved in His body.

  3. 3

    Kāla, or time, may be taken as the first cause of material creation, but everything originally comes from the Supreme Lord. The Absolute Truth is the beginning of all creations.

Key points from the purport
  • By the omnipotency of the Supreme Lord, the whole material creation evolves by the process of transformation and reactions one after another, and by the same omnipotency, they are wound up again one after another and conserved in the body of the Supreme.
  • Kāla, or time, is the synonym of nature and is the transformed manifestation of the principles of material creation.
  • As such, kāla may be taken as the first cause of all creation, and by transformation of nature different activities of the material world become visible.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kālātfrom eternal time
  2. guṇa-vyatikaraḥtransformation of the modes by reaction
  3. pariṇāmaḥtransformation
  4. svabhāvataḥfrom the nature
  5. karmaṇaḥof activities
  6. janmacreation
  7. mahataḥof the mahat-tattva
  8. puruṣa-adhiṣṭhitātbecause of the puruṣa incarnation of the Lord
  9. abhūtit took place
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 2.5

    In this verse: “material”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 2.5

    In this verse: “principles”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 2.5

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When I see natural changes, do I remember their ultimate source in the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Observe one natural change today and briefly reflect that its transformations ultimately depend on the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAll Transformations Originate in the Supreme 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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