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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 7: Scheduled Incarnations with Specific Functions
2.7.112.7.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.7.12

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

मत्स्यो युगान्तसमये मनुनोपलब्ध:

क्षोणीमयो निखिलजीवनिकायकेत: ।

विस्रंसितानुरुभये सलिले मुखान्मे

आदाय तत्र विजहार ह वेदमार्गान् ॥ १२ ॥

matsyo yugānta-samaye manunopalabdhaḥ

kṣoṇīmayo nikhila-jīva-nikāya-ketaḥ

visraṁsitān uru-bhaye salile mukhān me

ādāya tatra vijahāra ha veda-mārgān

Translation

At the end of the millennium, the would-be Vaivasvata Manu, of the name Satyavrata, would see that the Lord in the fish incarnation is the shelter of all kinds of living entities, up to those in the earthly planets. Because of my fear of the vast water at the end of the millennium, the Vedas come out of my [Brahmā’s] mouth, and the Lord enjoys those vast waters and protects the Vedas.

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 Shelters Life and Protects Knowledge

  1. 1

    During one day of Brahmā there are fourteen Manus. At the end of each Manu, devastation reaches the earthly planets, and the vast waters are fearful even to Brahmā.

  2. 2

    Satyavrata, the would-be Vaivasvata Manu, would see the Lord in His fish incarnation as the shelter of all kinds of living entities.

  3. 3

    The Lord would save the demigods, animals, men and great sages. He would also protect the Vedas that came from Brahmā’s mouth in that fearful situation.

Key points from the purport
  • During one day of Brahmā there are fourteen Manus, and at the end of each Manu there is devastation up to the earthly planets, and the vast water is fearful even to Brahmā.
  • So in the beginning of the would-be Vaivasvata Manu, such devastation would be seen by him.
  • This foretelling is by the past experience of Brahmājī, who knew that in that fearful devastating scene the Vedas would come out of his mouth but the Lord in His fish incarnation not only would save all living entities, namely the demigods, animals, men and great sages, but would also save the Vedas.

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 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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. matsyaḥincarnation of the fish
  2. yuga-antaat the end of the millennium
  3. samayeat the time of
  4. manunāthe would-be Vaivasvata Manu
  5. upalabdhaḥseen
  6. kṣoṇīmayaḥup to the earthly planets
  7. nikhilaall
  8. jīvaliving entities
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “protects”, “protect”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “fear”, “fearful”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “shelter”

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 does the Lord’s care for so many living beings deepen your sense of His shelter?

Practice

Reread the translation today, pausing to remember the Lord as the protector of both living beings and the Vedas.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

6

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 2.7's connections

Live this todayThe Lord Shelters Life and Protects KnowledgeThis 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 2.7.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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