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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 6: Puruṣa-sūkta Confirmed
2.6.182.6.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.6.19

Sthāna· The universe in order
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 2.6.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Brahmā → Nārada Muni

पादेषु सर्वभूतानि पुंस: स्थितिपदो विदु: ।

अमृतं क्षेममभयं त्रिमूर्ध्नोऽधायि मूर्धसु ॥ १९ ॥

pādeṣu sarva-bhūtāni

puṁsaḥ sthiti-pado viduḥ

amṛtaṁ kṣemam abhayaṁ

tri-mūrdhno ’dhāyi mūrdhasu

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is to be known as the supreme reservoir of all material opulences by the one fourth of His energy in which all the living entities exist. Deathlessness, fearlessness and freedom from the anxieties of old age and disease exist in the kingdom of God, which is beyond the three higher planetary systems and beyond the material coverings.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Lasting Fearlessness Lies Beyond the Material World

  1. 1

    One fourth of the Lord’s sandhinī energy is displayed in the material world, and three fourths in the spiritual world. His energies—sandhinī, saṁvit and hlādinī—express existence, knowledge and bliss.

  2. 2

    Living entities are minute parts and parcels of the Lord. In liberation they can relish existence, knowledge and bliss in minute measure, but in conditioned life they can hardly appreciate pure happiness.

  3. 3

    Even the higher material planets cannot provide complete immortality or fearlessness. Freedom from death, old age and disease exists only in the spiritual kingdom beyond the material coverings.

Key points from the purport
  • Out of the total manifestations of the sandhinī energy of the Lord, one fourth is displayed in the material world, and three fourths are displayed in the spiritual world.
  • In the material world, the planetary systems are arranged in three spheres, called triloka, or Svarga, Martya and Pātāla, and all of them constitute only one fourth of the total sandhinī energy.
  • The upper three planetary systems are called sāttvika planets because they provide facilities for a long duration of life and relative freedom from disease and old age, as well as a sense of fearlessness.

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 6: Puruṣa-sūkta Confirmed

Brahmā describes the universal form, his sacrifice, and the Lord’s control over creation, maintenance, and destruction.

Back to this verse in chapter 2.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pādeṣuin the one fourth
  2. sarvaall
  3. bhūtāniliving entities
  4. puṁsaḥof the Supreme Person
  5. sthiti-padaḥthe reservoir of all material opulence
  6. viduḥyou should know
  7. amṛtamdeathlessness
  8. kṣemamall happiness, free from the anxiety of old age, diseases, etc.
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 2.6

    In this verse: “fearlessness”, “deathlessness”, “death”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.6

    In this verse: “material”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 2.6

    In this verse: “kingdom”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I mistaking a longer or more comfortable material life for lasting freedom from fear?

Practice

Write down one temporary comfort you seek, then note how it differs from the lasting fearlessness described in this verse.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLasting Fearlessness Lies Beyond the Material WorldThis 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 2.6.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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