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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
2.8.202.8.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.8.21

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

सम्प्लव: सर्वभूतानां विक्रम: प्रतिसंक्रम: ।

इष्टापूर्तस्य काम्यानां त्रिवर्गस्य च यो विधि: ॥ २१ ॥

samplavaḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ

vikramaḥ pratisaṅkramaḥ

iṣṭā-pūrtasya kāmyānāṁ

tri-vargasya ca yo vidhiḥ

Translation

Please explain unto me how the living beings are generated, how they are maintained, and how they are annihilated. Tell me also of the advantages and disadvantages of discharging devotional service unto the Lord. What are the Vedic rituals and injunctions of the supplementary Vedic rites, and what are the procedures of religion, economic development and sense satisfaction?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Nurture What Helps Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Conditional life is like traveling by boat across an uncertain ocean. Devotees take shelter of the Lord and cross the ocean of material existence by His grace.

  2. 2

    Overeating, dishonest efforts to accumulate wealth, and nonsense talk harm devotional service. A devotee should live honestly and glorify the Lord.

  3. 3

    Devotional service should be enthusiastic and guided by a bona fide spiritual master, not limited to formalities. A devotee should peacefully share devotion without being discouraged by apparent failure.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore a devotee should always glorify the Lord in His wonderful creations.
  • The favorable conditions for discharging devotional service are that one should be very enthusiastic in serving the Lord.
  • Every devotee should be very enthusiastic, not only in performing his daily rituals of devotional service, but in trying to preach the cult peacefully by following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya.

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 2.8.21 quotesBG 9.13

The devotees of the Lord, however, cross the ocean of material existence without anxiety because a pure devotee is always protected by the Lord.

The purport of SB 2.8.21 quotesBG 9.29

The Lord gives special attention to His devotees in their activities within material, conditional life.

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. samplavaḥthe perfect means or complete devastation
  2. sarva-bhūtānāmof all living beings
  3. vikramaḥspecific power or situation
  4. pratisaṅkramaḥultimate destruction
  5. iṣṭāperformance of Vedic rituals
  6. pūrtasyapious acts in terms of religion
  7. kāmyānāmrituals for economic development
  8. tri-vargasyathree means of religion, economic development and sense satisfaction
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.8

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 2.8

    In this verse: “religion”

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

Which habit in my daily life helps devotional service, and which one hinders it?

Practice

Today, replace one unnecessary conversation with a few words glorifying the Lord’s wonderful creation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNurture What Helps Devotional 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.

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