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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 8: Questions by King Parīkṣit
2.8.192.8.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.8.20

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Kingsince 2.8.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

योगेश्वरैश्वर्यगतिर्लिङ्गभङ्गस्तु योगिनाम् ।

वेदोपवेदधर्माणामितिहासपुराणयो: ॥ २० ॥

yogeśvaraiśvarya-gatir

liṅga-bhaṅgas tu yoginām

vedopaveda-dharmāṇām

itihāsa-purāṇayoḥ

Translation

What are the opulences of the great mystics, and what is their ultimate realization? How does the perfect mystic become detached from the subtle astral body? What is the basic knowledge of the Vedic literatures, including the branches of history and the supplementary Purāṇas?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Goes Beyond Mystic Powers

  1. 1

    Masters of mystic powers can perform extraordinary wonders. Lord Śiva is the greatest of these mystics.

  2. 2

    Devotees do not directly practice mystic powers, but the Lord protects them by His unlimited power. Their strength comes from His mercy, just as a child’s strength comes from the parents.

  3. 3

    The whole purpose of the Vedas is to know the Supreme Personality of Godhead and become His transcendental loving servant.

Key points from the purport
  • The devotees of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, do not directly practice the process of mystic powers, but, by the grace of the Lord, His devotee can defeat even a great yogeśvara like Durvāsā Muni, who picked a quarrel with Mahārāja Ambarīṣa and wanted to show the wonderful achievements of his mystic powers.
  • Mahārāja Parīkṣit inquired from the learned brāhmaṇa Śukadeva Gosvāmī about the ultimate destination of such great mystics or how they attain such extraordinary powers by their own efforts or by the grace of the Lord.
  • As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (15.15), the whole purport of all the Vedas is to know the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus become a transcendental loving servant 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· 1

The purport of SB 2.8.20 quotesBG 15.15

As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (15.15), the whole purport of all the Vedas is to know the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus become a transcendental loving servant of the Lord.

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

Inquiry → Conviction. Divine knowledge resolves fundamental cosmic uncertainty.

Chapters 8–10 of Canto 2: Parīkṣit questions; Brahmā receives revelation. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 8: Questions by King Parīkṣit

Parīkṣit requests further hearing about Kṛṣṇa and asks questions about creation, time, duty, and devotional service.

Back to this verse in chapter 2.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yoga-īśvaraof the master of the mystic powers
  2. aiśvaryaopulence
  3. gatiḥadvancement
  4. liṅgaastral body
  5. bhaṅgaḥdetachment
  6. tubut
  7. yogināmof the mystics
  8. vedatranscendental knowledge
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 2.8

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 2.8

    In this verse: “detached”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.8

    In this verse: “devotees”

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

Am I more attracted to extraordinary powers or to becoming a loving servant of the Lord?

Practice

Before studying today, pause and remember that the purpose of Vedic knowledge is to know and lovingly serve the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story 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 2.8's connections

Live this todayDevotion Goes Beyond Mystic PowersThis 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.

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