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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
2.8.252.8.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.8.26

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

न मेऽसव: परायन्ति ब्रह्मन्ननशनादमी ।

पिबतोऽच्युतपीयूषम् तद्वाक्याब्धिविनि:सृतम् ॥ २६ ॥

na me ’savaḥ parāyanti

brahmann anaśanād amī

pibato ’cyuta-pīyūṣam

tad vākya-abdhi-viniḥsṛtam

Translation

O learned brāhmaṇa, because of my drinking the nectar of the message of the infallible Personality of Godhead, which is flowing down from the ocean of your speeches, I do not feel any sort of exhaustion due to my fasting.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Find Encouragement in the Lord’s Message

  1. 1

    The disciplic succession described here carries acyuta-kathā, the message of the infallible Lord. Speculative arguments are not infallible and can be defeated by other arguments.

  2. 2

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit felt no exhaustion from fasting while hearing the nectarean message of the Lord from Śukadeva Gosvāmī. The Lord’s message can remain refreshing even when one is otherwise exhausted.

  3. 3

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit was encouraged by the Lord’s message and was not afraid of death. One fully absorbed in acyuta-kathā need not fear anything in this world.

Key points from the purport
  • The disciplic successions from other sages are simply a waste of time, being devoid of acyuta-kathā, or the message of the infallible Lord.
  • Mahārāja Parīkṣit was not interested in the dry speculation of the flickering mind, but he was interested in the topics of the Lord because factually he felt that by hearing such a nectarean message from the mouth of Śukadeva Gosvāmī he was not feeling any exhaustion, even though he was fasting because of his imminent death.
  • The message of the Lord, especially from a personality like Śukadeva Gosvāmī, can never be tiring, even though one may be exhausted from other causes.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanever
  2. memine
  3. asavaḥlife
  4. parāyantibecomes exhausted
  5. brahmanO learned brāhmaṇa
  6. anaśanāt amībecause of fasting
  7. pibataḥbecause of my drinking
  8. acyutaof the infallible
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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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 2.8

    In this verse: “fear”, “afraid”, “death”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “hearing”

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

How does hearing the Lord’s message affect my fears and discouragement?

Practice

Spend five quiet minutes today reading or hearing the Lord’s message, giving it your full attention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFind Encouragement in the Lord’s MessageThis 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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