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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

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

2.7.14 2.7.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.7.15

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

अन्त:सरस्युरुबलेन पदे गृहीतो

ग्राहेण यूथपतिरम्बुजहस्त आर्त: ।

आहेदमादिपुरुषाखिललोकनाथ

तीर्थश्रव: श्रवणमङ्गलनामधेय ॥ १५ ॥

antaḥ-sarasy uru-balena pade gṛhīto

grāheṇa yūtha-patir ambuja-hasta ārtaḥ

āhedam ādi-puruṣākhila-loka-nātha

tīrtha-śravaḥ śravaṇa-maṅgala-nāmadheya

Translation

The leader of the elephants, whose leg was attacked in a river by a crocodile of superior strength, was much aggrieved. Taking a lotus flower in his trunk, he addressed the Lord, saying, “O original enjoyer, Lord of the universe! O deliverer, as famous as a place of pilgrimage! All are purified simply by hearing Your holy name, which is worthy to be chanted.”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear and Chant the Lord’s Holy Name

1
There is no difference between the Lord’s holy name and the Personality of Godhead. Remembering His name sincerely frees one from sinful reactions, and hearing it brings auspiciousness.
2
The elephant acknowledged the Lord as the original enjoyer and Lord of the universe. A pure devotee knows that everything belongs to the Lord and accepts nothing without first offering it to Him.
3
Supported by his past devotional deeds, the distressed elephant called upon the Lord, who immediately responded. Our desire to hear and read is best used for the Lord’s activities, nourishing devotional service.

Key points from the purport

And because the elephant was a great devotee of the Lord in his previous birth, he was able to chant the holy name of the Lord by dint of his past good deeds.
The Lord is therefore as good as the holy places of pilgrimage.
One can be free from all sinful reactions after reaching a place of pilgrimage, but one can have the same benefit at home or at any place simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord.

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· 2

The purport of SB 2.7.15 quotesBG 7.16

But one who is supported by his past good deeds engages himself in the devotional service of the Lord, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.16).

The purport of SB 2.7.15 quotesBG 7.15

This is also confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.15).

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

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.

antaḥ-sarasiwithin the river
uru-balenaby superior strength
padeleg
gṛhītaḥbeing taken up
grāheṇaby the crocodile
yūtha-patiḥof the leader of the elephants
ambuja-hastaḥwith a lotus flower in the hand
ārtaḥgreatly aggrieved

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
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 2.7
In this verse: “chanted”, “hearing”, “holy name”
Śuddhi · Inner transformation
The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 2.7
In this verse: “purified”, “sinful”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.7
In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How could you give hearing about the Lord more space in your day?

Practice

Spend two minutes chanting the holy name of Hari and listening attentively.

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear and Chant the Lord’s Holy NameThis 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 2.7.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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