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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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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.

Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Canto 2 · Chapter 7: Scheduled Incarnations with Specific Functions

2.7.10 2.7.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.7.11

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 2.7.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Brahmā → Nārada Muni

सत्रे ममास भगवान् हयशीरषाथो

साक्षात् स यज्ञपुरुषस्तपनीयवर्ण: ।

छन्दोमयो मखमयोऽखिलदेवतात्मा

वाचो बभूवुरुशती: श्वसतोऽस्य नस्त: ॥ ११ ॥

satre mamāsa bhagavān haya-śīraṣātho

sākṣāt sa yajña-puruṣas tapanīya-varṇaḥ

chandomayo makhamayo ’khila-devatātmā

vāco babhūvur uśatīḥ śvasato ’sya nastaḥ

Translation

The Lord appeared as the Hayagrīva incarnation in a sacrifice performed by me [Brahmā]. He is the personified sacrifices, and the hue of His body is golden. He is the personified Vedas as well, and the Supersoul of all demigods. When He breathed, all the sweet sounds of the Vedic hymns came out of His nostrils.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Fulfills the Purpose of Sacrifice

1
The Lord appeared as golden-hued Hayagrīva in Brahmā’s sacrifice. He is the personified sacrifices, the personified Vedas, and the Supersoul of all demigods.
2
Vedic hymns commonly accompany sacrifices performed for material results and the satisfaction of demigods. Yet the Lord Himself embodies both the sacrifices and the hymns.
3
A direct devotee of the Lord automatically fulfills the purposes of sacrifice and pleases the demigods. Such devotion stands above work for material rewards and separate worship of demigods.

Key points from the purport

The Vedic hymns are generally meant for sacrifices performed by fruitive workers who also want to satisfy the demigods to achieve their fruitive result.
But the Lord is the personified sacrifices and personified Vedic hymns.
The devotees of the Lord may not perform any sacrifice or may not please the demigods as per Vedic injunctions, and still the devotees are on a higher level than the fruitive workers or the worshipers of different demigods.

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 7: Scheduled Incarnations with Specific Functions

Brahmā recounts the Lord’s incarnations and explains that unalloyed surrender enables one to understand Him.

Back to this verse in chapter 2.7

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

satrein the sacrificial ceremony
mamaof mine
āsaappeared
bhagavānthe Personality of Godhead
haya-śīraṣāwith His horselike head
athathus
sākṣātdirectly
saḥHe

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
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.7
In this verse: “devotion”, “devotee”, “worship”
Prema · Transcendental love
The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 2.7
In this verse: “sweet”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.7
In this verse: “material”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Is my spiritual practice centered on devotion to the Lord or on obtaining material rewards?

Practice

Offer a short prayer to the Lord today, asking to serve Him rather than seeking a material reward.

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Fulfills the Purpose of SacrificeThis 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 2.7.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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