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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
2.7.322.7.34-35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.7.33

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

क्रीडन् वने निशि निशाकररश्मिगौर्यां

रासोन्मुख: कलपदायतमूर्च्छितेन ।

उद्दीपितस्मररुजां व्रजभृद्वधूनां

हर्तुर्हरिष्यति शिरो धनदानुगस्य ॥ ३३ ॥

krīḍan vane niśi niśākara-raśmi-gauryāṁ

rāsonmukhaḥ kala-padāyata-mūrcchitena

uddīpita-smara-rujāṁ vraja-bhṛd-vadhūnāṁ

hartur hariṣyati śiro dhanadānugasya

Translation

When the Lord was engaged in His pastimes of the rāsa dance in the forest of Vṛndāvana, enlivening the sexual desires of the wives of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana by sweet and melodious songs, a demon of the name Śaṅkhacūḍa, a rich follower of the treasurer of heaven [Kuvera], kidnapped the damsels, and the Lord severed his head from his trunk.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recognize the Lord Through Authoritative Scripture

  1. 1

    Brahmājī spoke to Nārada about events that would occur during Lord Kṛṣṇa's future appearance. Experts who can see past, present and future know the Lord's pastimes.

  2. 2

    The rāsa dance and the killing of Śaṅkhacūḍa are described together, but they were not simultaneous. The Lord killed Śaṅkhacūḍa after the rāsa-līlā.

  3. 3

    The Lord's appearances and activities are generally foretold in scripture. Knowledge of these authoritative descriptions protects one from being cheated by false incarnations.

Key points from the purport
  • We should carefully note that the statements described herein are the statements of Brahmājī to Nārada, and he was speaking to Nārada of events that would happen in the future, during the advent of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • The pastimes of the Lord are known to the experts who are able to see past, present and future, and Brahmājī, being one of them, foretold what would happen in the future.
  • Generally the future appearance and the activities of the Lord or His incarnations are foretold in the scriptures, and thus the pseudo incarnations are unable to cheat persons who are in knowledge of the events as they are described in the authoritative scriptures.

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. krīḍanwhile engaged in His pastimes
  2. vanein the forest of Vṛndāvana
  3. niśinocturnal
  4. niśākarathe moon
  5. raśmi-gauryāmwhite moonshine
  6. rāsa-unmukhaḥdesiring to dance with
  7. kala-padāyataaccompanied by sweet songs
  8. mūrcchitenaand melodious music
3

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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “sweet”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protects”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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

Why is scriptural knowledge important when considering someone's claim to be an incarnation?

Practice

Reread the purport's final paragraph and note how scripture helps distinguish the Lord's incarnations from false claims.

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 todayRecognize the Lord Through Authoritative ScriptureThis 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 2.7.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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