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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
2.7.32.7.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.7.4

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

अत्रेरपत्यमभिकाङ्‍क्षत आह तुष्टो

दत्तो मयाहमिति यद् भगवान् स दत्त: ।

यत्पादपङ्कजपरागपवित्रदेहा

योगर्द्धिमापुरुभयीं यदुहैहयाद्या: ॥ ४ ॥

atrer apatyam abhikāṅkṣata āha tuṣṭo

datto mayāham iti yad bhagavān sa dattaḥ

yat-pāda-paṅkaja-parāga-pavitra-dehā

yogarddhim āpur ubhayīṁ yadu-haihayādyāḥ

Translation

The great sage Atri prayed for offspring, and the Lord, being satisfied with him, promised to incarnate as Atri’s son, Dattātreya [Datta, the son of Atri]. And by the grace of the lotus feet of the Lord, many Yadus, Haihayas, etc., became so purified that they obtained both material and spiritual blessings.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Give Your Time to Loving Service

  1. 1

    Atri desired the Lord as his son through the parental affection called vātsalya. Pleased with his devotion, the Lord gave Himself as Atri’s son, Dattātreya.

  2. 2

    Although the Lord is the father of all living entities, He takes pleasure in becoming His devotee’s son. This relationship allows the devotee to offer Him affectionate service.

  3. 3

    A devotee need not seek material enjoyment, liberation or mystic powers separately, but should use life’s valuable time in loving service. Even after attaining spiritual perfection, one must guard against offenses to devotees.

Key points from the purport
  • The sage Atri was related with the Lord in the affectionate vātsalya humor, and therefore, as a result of his devotional perfection, he was inclined to have the Personality of Godhead as his son.
  • The Lord also accepts such service from the devotee, and thus the devotee becomes more than the Lord.
  • The Lord became the son of the great sage Atri and became known as Dattātreya.

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· 1

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.9.32

The Bhāgavatam (2.7.4) states: “Many Yadus, Haihayas, etc., became so purified, by the grace of the lotus feet of Dattātreya, the Lord, that they obtained both material and spiritual blessings.”

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

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. atreḥof the sage Atri
  2. apatyamissue
  3. abhikāṅkṣataḥhaving prayed for
  4. āhasaid it
  5. tuṣṭaḥbeing satisfied
  6. dattaḥgiven over
  7. mayāby me
  8. ahammyself
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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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “grace”, “blessings”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.7

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotee’s”

  • 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.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking blessings separately, or giving my attention to lovingly serving the Lord?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to offer the Lord a prayer focused on serving Him rather than requesting benefits.

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The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

7

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 todayGive Your Time to Loving ServiceThis 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 2.7.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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