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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

2.5.30 2.5.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.5.31

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

तैजसात् तु विकुर्वाणादिन्द्रियाणि दशाभवन् ।

ज्ञानशक्ति: क्रियाशक्तिर्बुद्धि: प्राणश्च तैजसौ ।

श्रोत्रं त्वग्घ्राणद‍ृग्जिह्वा वागदोर्मेढ्राङ्‌घ्रिपायव: ॥ ३१ ॥

taijasāt tu vikurvāṇād

indriyāṇi daśābhavan

jñāna-śaktiḥ kriyā-śaktir

buddhiḥ prāṇaś ca taijasau

śrotraṁ tvag-ghrāṇa-dṛg-jihvā

vāg-dor-meḍhrāṅghri-pāyavaḥ

Translation

By further transformation of the mode of passion, the sense organs like the ear, skin, nose, eyes, tongue, mouth, hands, genitals, legs, and the outlet for evacuating, together with intelligence and living energy, are all generated.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Passion Drives the Material Struggle

1
The ten sense organs, intelligence and living energy arise through transformation of the mode of passion. They support the living condition in material existence.
2
Intelligence is assisted by the senses for acquiring knowledge in the hard struggle for existence. Living energy maintains bodily life through active organs such as the hands and legs.
3
The struggle for existence is, on the whole, an exertion of the mode of passion. The senses, intelligence and living energy, prāṇa, are its products and by-products.

Key points from the purport

The living condition in material existence depends more or less on one’s intelligence and powerful living energy.
Intelligence to counteract the hard struggle for existence is assisted by the senses for acquiring knowledge, and the living energy maintains himself by manipulating the active organs, like the hands and legs.
Therefore all the sense organs, headed by intelligence and the living energy, prāṇa, are different products and by-products of the second mode of nature, called passion.

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

taijasātby the passionate egoism
tubut
vikurvāṇāttransformation of
indriyāṇithe senses
daśaten
abhavangenerated
jñāna-śaktiḥthe five senses for acquiring knowledge
kriyā-śaktiḥthe five senses of activities

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”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where do I notice my intelligence and bodily energy being absorbed in the struggle for existence?

Practice

During one ordinary task, notice how your senses, intelligence, hands or legs work together to maintain material life.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPassion Drives the Material StruggleThis 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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