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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 6: Puruṣa-sūkta Confirmed
2.6.242.6.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.6.25

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
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

वस्तून्योषधय: स्‍नेहा रसलोहमृदो जलम् ।

ऋचो यजूंषि सामानि चातुर्होत्रं च सत्तम ॥ २५ ॥

vastūny oṣadhayaḥ snehā

rasa-loha-mṛdo jalam

ṛco yajūṁṣi sāmāni

cātur-hotraṁ ca sattama

Translation

Other requirements are utensils, grains, clarified butter, honey, gold, earth, water, the Ṛg Veda, Yajur Veda and Sāma Veda and four priests to perform the sacrifice.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Chanting Is the Recommended Sacrifice Today

  1. 1

    Sacrifice requires utensils, grains, clarified butter, honey, gold, earth and water. The Ṛg Veda, Yajur Veda and Sāma Veda are also required.

  2. 2

    At least four expert priests are needed: one to offer, one to chant, one to kindle the fire and one to supervise. Successful performance depends on their expertise.

  3. 3

    Such expert brāhmaṇa priests are very rare in this age of corruption and quarrel. Therefore only the sacrifice of chanting the Lord’s holy name is recommended now.

Key points from the purport
  • To perform a sacrifice successfully, at least four expert priests are needed: one who can offer (hotā), one who can chant (udgātā), one who can kindle the sacrificial fire without the aid of separate fire (adhvaryu), and one who can supervise (brahmā).
  • Such sacrifices were conducted from the birth of Brahmā, the first living creature, and were carried on till the reign of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira.
  • But such expert brāhmaṇa priests are very rare in this age of corruption and quarrel, and therefore in the present age only the yajña of chanting the holy name of the Lord is recommended.

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. vastūniutensils
  2. oṣadhayaḥgrains
  3. snehāḥclarified butter
  4. rasa-loha-mṛdaḥhoney, gold and earth
  5. jalamwater
  6. ṛcaḥthe Ṛg Veda
  7. yajūṁṣithe Yajur Veda
  8. sāmānithe Sāma Veda
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 2.6

    In this verse: “chant”, “holy name”

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

How can I make room for the simple sacrifice recommended for this age?

Practice

Spend two minutes today chanting the holy name of the Lord attentively.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChanting Is the Recommended Sacrifice TodayThis 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 2.6.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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