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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
2.7.152.7.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.7.16

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

श्रुत्वा हरिस्तमरणार्थिनमप्रमेय-

श्चक्रायुध: पतगराजभुजाधिरूढ: ।

चक्रेण नक्रवदनं विनिपाट्य तस्मा-

द्धस्ते प्रगृह्य भगवान् कृपयोज्जहार ॥ १६ ॥

śrutvā haris tam araṇārthinam aprameyaś

cakrāyudhaḥ patagarāja-bhujādhirūḍhaḥ

cakreṇa nakra-vadanaṁ vinipāṭya tasmād

dhaste pragṛhya bhagavān kṛpayojjahāra

Translation

The Personality of Godhead, after hearing the elephant’s plea, felt that the elephant needed His immediate help, for he was in great distress. Thus at once the Lord appeared there on the wings of the king of birds, Garuḍa, fully equipped with His weapon, the wheel [cakra]. With the wheel He cut to pieces the mouth of the crocodile to save the elephant, and He delivered the elephant by lifting him by his trunk.

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’s Power Exceeds All Calculation

  1. 1

    The Lord resides in Vaikuṇṭha, far beyond the material sky. Neither material airships nor the finer mindships of yogīs can reach His kingdom.

  2. 2

    Human imagination and mathematical calculation cannot estimate the Lord’s powers. He can hear from unlimited distances and appear simultaneously in all places at a moment’s notice.

  3. 3

    Hearing the elephant’s plea, the Lord immediately appeared on Garuḍa. He cut the crocodile’s mouth with His wheel and lifted the elephant by his trunk.

Key points from the purport
  • The yogīs can reach any distant place very quickly with the help of mindships.
  • Since this is the situation, how was it possible for the prayers of the elephant to be heard from such an unlimitedly distant place, and how could the Lord at once appear on the spot?
  • All this was possible by the unlimited power of the Lord, and therefore the Lord is described here as aprameya, for not even the best human brain can estimate His powers and potencies by mathematical calculation.

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. śrutvāby hearing
  2. hariḥthe Personality of Godhead
  3. tamhim
  4. araṇa-arthinamone who is in need of help
  5. aprameyaḥthe unlimitedly powerful Lord
  6. cakrawheel
  7. āyudhaḥequipped with His weapon
  8. pataga-rājathe king of the birds (Garuḍa)
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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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “king”, “kingdom”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “distress”

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 ability to hear beyond all distance affect the way you pray?

Practice

Offer one sincere prayer today, remembering that distance does not limit the Lord’s ability to hear.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Power Exceeds All CalculationThis 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 2.7.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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