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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
2.6.342.6.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.6.35

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

सोऽहं समाम्नायमयस्तपोमय:

प्रजापतीनामभिवन्दित: पति: ।

आस्थाय योगं निपुणं समाहित-

स्तं नाध्यगच्छं यत आत्मसम्भव: ॥ ३५ ॥

so ’haṁ samāmnāyamayas tapomayaḥ

prajāpatīnām abhivanditaḥ patiḥ

āsthāya yogaṁ nipuṇaṁ samāhitas

taṁ nādhyagacchaṁ yata ātma-sambhavaḥ

Translation

Although I am known as the great Brahmā, perfect in the disciplic succession of Vedic wisdom, and although I have undergone all austerities and am an expert in mystic powers and self-realization, and although I am recognized as such by the great forefathers of the living entities, who offer me respectful obeisances, still I cannot understand Him, the Lord, the very source of my birth.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Know the Lord Through Eager Service

  1. 1

    Even Brahmā's learning, austerities, mystic powers and self-realization were insufficient to know the Lord. He could understand Him to a little extent only through heartfelt eagerness to serve.

  2. 2

    Spiritual qualifications can help one approach devotional service, but without devotion one remains imperfect. The Personality of Godhead is known to some extent through self-surrender and a devotional attitude, never in full.

  3. 3

    Devotional service does not aim at losing one's individuality. Devotees are satisfied simply to serve the Lord, regardless of their situation, rather than seeking any kind of liberation.

Key points from the purport
  • Brahmā, the greatest of all living creatures within the universe, is admitting his failure to know the Supreme Lord despite his vast learning in the Vedic wisdom, despite his austerity, penance, mystic powers and self-realization, and despite being worshiped by the great Prajāpatis, the forefathers of the living entities.
  • Therefore, who can be a more learned Vedāntist than Lord Brahmā?
  • The so-called Vedāntist, therefore, cannot enter into the existence of the Lord without being trained in the matter of bhakti-vedānta, or Vedānta plus bhakti.

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 2.6.35 quotesBG 18.54

This fact is clearly corroborated in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.54-55):

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 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. saḥ ahammyself (the great Brahmā)
  2. samāmnāya-mayaḥin the chain of disciplic succession of Vedic wisdom
  3. tapaḥ-mayaḥsuccessfully having undergone all austerities
  4. prajāpatīnāmof all the forefathers of living entities
  5. abhivanditaḥworshipable
  6. patiḥmaster
  7. āsthāyasuccessfully practiced
  8. yogammystic powers
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 2.6

    In this verse: “wisdom”, “understand”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.6

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

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 approaching the Lord mainly through what I know, or through an eager desire to serve?

Practice

Read a short passage of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam today with a sincere desire to understand and serve the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKnow the Lord Through Eager ServiceThis 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 2.6.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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