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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 2.5.26-29

Who is speaking and story frame

नभसोऽथ विकुर्वाणादभूत् स्पर्शगुणोऽनिल: ।

परान्वयाच्छब्दवांश्च प्राण ओज: सहो बलम् ॥ २६ ॥

वायोरपि विकुर्वाणात् कालकर्मस्वभावत: ।

उदपद्यत तेजो वै रूपवत् स्पर्शशब्दवत् ॥ २७ ॥

तेजसस्तु विकुर्वाणादासीदम्भो रसात्मकम् ।

रूपवत् स्पर्शवच्चाम्भो घोषवच्च परान्वयात् ॥ २८ ॥

विशेषस्तु विकुर्वाणादम्भसो गन्धवानभूत् ।

परान्वयाद् रसस्पर्शशब्दरूपगुणान्वित: ॥ २९ ॥

nabhaso ’tha vikurvāṇād

abhūt sparśa-guṇo ’nilaḥ

parānvayāc chabdavāṁś ca

prāṇa ojaḥ saho balam

vāyor api vikurvāṇāt

kāla-karma-svabhāvataḥ

udapadyata tejo vai

rūpavat sparśa-śabdavat

tejasas tu vikurvāṇād

āsīd ambho rasātmakam

rūpavat sparśavac cāmbho

ghoṣavac ca parānvayāt

viśeṣas tu vikurvāṇād

ambhaso gandhavān abhūt

parānvayād rasa-sparśa-

śabda-rūpa-guṇānvitaḥ

Translation

Because the sky is transformed, the air is generated with the quality of touch, and by previous succession the air is also full of sound and the basic principles of duration of life: sense perception, mental power and bodily strength. When the air is transformed in course of time and nature’s course, fire is generated, taking shape with the sense of touch and sound. Since fire is also transformed, there is a manifestation of water, full of juice and taste. As previously, it also has form and touch and is also full of sound. And water, being transformed from all variegatedness on earth, appears odorous and, as previously, becomes qualitatively full of juice, touch, sound and form respectively.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Is the Cause of All Causes

  1. 1

    Creation develops gradually from sky to air, fire, water and earth. Each successive element carries the earlier qualities, with all five—sound, touch, form, taste and odor—present in earth.

  2. 2

    The elements are mutually causes and effects, but their original cause is the Lord in His plenary portion as Mahā-Viṣṇu. Lord Kṛṣṇa is the cause of all causes.

  3. 3

    The bhakti-yogī surpasses all other yogīs through devotional service. By the supreme will of the Lord, the devotee reaches a planet in the spiritual sky, beyond the material sky.

Key points from the purport
  • The quality of sense perception is also evolutionary, namely generated from sound, then touch, and from touch to form.
  • Taste and odor are also generated along with the gradual development of sky, air, fire, water and earth.
  • In the fire there are sound, touch and shape, and in the water there is taste also, along with the other perceptions, namely sound, touch and shape.

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 2.5.26-29 quotesBG 10.8

As such, Lord Kṛṣṇa is described in the Brahma-saṁhitā as the cause of all causes, and this is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (10.8) as follows: The qualities of sense perception are fully represented in the earth, and they are manifested in other elements to a lesser extent.

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. nabhasaḥof the sky
  2. athathus
  3. vikurvāṇātbeing transformed
  4. abhūtgenerated
  5. sparśatouch
  6. guṇaḥquality
  7. anilaḥair
  8. paraprevious
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”, “bhakti-yogī”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “principles”

  • 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

How can noticing creation's variety help me remember its original cause, Lord Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Notice the scent of earth or the taste of water today, and take a moment to remember Kṛṣṇa as the cause of all causes.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is the Cause of All CausesThis 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 2.5.26-29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.