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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
2.5.322.5.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.5.33

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

तदा संहृत्य चान्योन्यं भगवच्छक्तिचोदिता: ।

सदसत्त्वमुपादाय चोभयं ससृजुर्ह्यद: ॥ ३३ ॥

tadā saṁhatya cānyonyaṁ

bhagavac-chakti-coditāḥ

sad-asattvam upādāya

cobhayaṁ sasṛjur hy adaḥ

Translation

Thus when all these became assembled by force of the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, this universe certainly came into being by accepting both the primary and secondary causes of creation.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Creates Through His Energies

  1. 1

    The universe comes into being when its parts are assembled by the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He employs His energies; He does not Himself become transformed into material creation.

  2. 2

    Innumerable universes arise with the breathing of Mahā-Viṣṇu in the Causal Ocean. He enters each universe as Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, and Brahmā is born on the lotus growing from His navel.

  3. 3

    Brahmā creates the different bodily forms within the universe according to different desires. The Lord remains the chief engineer, directing material nature in both the creation of universes and creation within each universe.

Key points from the purport
  • In this verse it is clearly mentioned that the Supreme Personality of Godhead exerts His different energies in the creation; it is not that He Himself is transformed into material creations.
  • Therefore the chief engineer of the material creation is the Lord Himself, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.10).
  • Both are done by the Lord, and thus the universal shape, as we can see, takes place.

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 2.5.33 quotesBG 9.10

Therefore the chief engineer of the material creation is the Lord Himself, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.10).

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. tadāall those
  2. saṁhatyabeing assembled
  3. caalso
  4. anyonyamone another
  5. bhagavatby the Personality of Godhead
  6. śaktienergy
  7. coditāḥbeing applied
  8. sat-asattvamprimarily and secondarily
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does recognizing the Lord as creation's chief engineer affect my view of material nature?

Practice

Look at one moving and one nonmoving thing today, and remember that material nature produces both under the Lord's direction.

5

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 todayThe Lord Creates Through His EnergiesThis 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 2.5.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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