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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
2.5.222.5.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.5.23

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

महतस्तु विकुर्वाणाद्रज:सत्त्वोपबृंहितात् ।

तम:प्रधानस्त्वभवद् द्रव्यज्ञानक्रियात्मक: ॥ २३ ॥

mahatas tu vikurvāṇād

rajaḥ-sattvopabṛṁhitāt

tamaḥ-pradhānas tv abhavad

dravya-jñāna-kriyātmakaḥ

Translation

Material activities are caused by the mahat-tattva’s being agitated. At first there is transformation of the modes of goodness and passion, and later — due to the mode of ignorance — matter, its knowledge, and different activities of material knowledge come into play.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Material Progress Can Obscure Spiritual Identity

  1. 1

    The mahat-tattva is agitated by the will of the Supreme, with goodness and passion prominent at first. As varied material activities develop, passion becomes prominent and living entities become increasingly involved in ignorance.

  2. 2

    Activities pursued in the name of advancing civilization can lead living entities to forget their spiritual nature. Material creations become means of sense enjoyment for bewildered living entities.

  3. 3

    Even a slight cultivation of goodness gives a glimpse of spiritual nature, but passion can adulterate that goodness. Realizing the Lord remains difficult because He is always transcendental to the material modes.

Key points from the purport
  • The mahat-tattva is the principle of material creation, and when it is agitated by the will of the Supreme at first the modes of passion and goodness are prominent, and afterwards the mode of passion, being generated in due course by material activities of different varieties, becomes prominent, and the living entities are thus involved more and more in ignorance.
  • Brahmā is the representation of the mode of passion, and Viṣṇu is the representation of the mode of goodness, while the mode of ignorance is represented by Lord Śiva, the father of material activities.
  • In the , as such Age of Kali (when the mode of passion is most prominent) material activities of different varieties, in the name of advancement of human civilization, take place, and the living entities become more and more involved in forgetting their real identity — the spiritual nature.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mahataḥof the mahat-tattva
  2. tubut
  3. vikurvāṇātbeing transformed
  4. rajaḥthe material mode of passion
  5. sattvathe mode of goodness
  6. upabṛṁhitātbecause of being increased
  7. tamaḥthe mode of darkness
  8. pradhānaḥbeing prominent
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.5

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which of my busy pursuits tends to make me forget my spiritual nature?

Practice

Pause one activity pursued only for sense enjoyment today and spend a minute reflecting on your spiritual identity.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMaterial Progress Can Obscure Spiritual IdentityThis 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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