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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
2.8.242.8.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.8.25

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

अत्र प्रमाणं हि भवान् परमेष्ठी यथात्मभू: ।

अपरे चानुतिष्ठन्ति पूर्वेषां पूर्वजै: कृतम् ॥ २५ ॥

atra pramāṇaṁ hi bhavān

parameṣṭhī yathātma-bhūḥ

apare cānutiṣṭhanti

pūrveṣāṁ pūrva-jaiḥ kṛtam

Translation

O great sage, you are as good as Brahmā, the original living being. Others follow custom only, as followed by the previous philosophical speculators.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Receive Knowledge Through Disciplic Succession

  1. 1

    Vedic transcendental knowledge descends directly from the Personality of Godhead. It passed through Brahmā, Nārāda, and Vyāsadeva to Śukadeva Gosvāmī.

  2. 2

    Knowledge received through this disciplic succession is perfect. A spiritual master must have received transcendental knowledge through this succession.

  3. 3

    Mental speculation comes from an imperfect, material mind and cannot yield perfect transcendental knowledge. Mahārāja Parīkṣit therefore heard from an authority like Śukadeva Gosvāmī.

Key points from the purport
  • It may be argued that Śukadeva Gosvāmī is not the only authority of perfect knowledge in transcendence because there are many other sages and their followers.
  • Thus the knowledge, being received from the chain of disciplic succession, is perfect.
  • Mind is material and thus knowledge presented by material speculators is never transcendental and can never become perfect.

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

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. atrain this matter
  2. pramāṇamevidential facts
  3. hicertainly
  4. bhavānyourself
  5. parameṣṭhīBrahmā, the creator of the universe
  6. yathāas
  7. ātma-bhūḥborn directly from the Lord
  8. apareothers
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “philosophical”, “knowledge”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 2.8

    In this verse: “heard”

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

When seeking spiritual understanding, do I consider where a teaching comes from?

Practice

Trace the chain of teachers named in this purport, beginning with the Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReceive Knowledge Through Disciplic SuccessionThis 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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