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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
2.8.272.8.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.8.28

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 2.8.27inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

प्राह भागवतं नाम पुराणं ब्रह्मसम्मितम् ।

ब्रह्मणे भगवत्प्रोक्तं ब्रह्मकल्प उपागते ॥ २८ ॥

prāha bhāgavataṁ nāma

purāṇaṁ brahma-sammitam

brahmaṇe bhagavat-proktaṁ

brahma-kalpa upāgate

Translation

He began to reply to the inquiries of Mahārāja Parīkṣit by saying that the science of the Personality of Godhead was spoken first by the Lord Himself to Brahmā when he was first born. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the supplementary Vedic literature, and it is just in pursuance of the Vedas.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Learn the Science of the Personal Lord

  1. 1

    Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the science of the Personality of Godhead. The Lord Himself first spoke this knowledge to Brahmā when he was first born.

  2. 2

    Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam supplements the Vedas and follows their teachings. It teaches the Lord’s personal nature, which impersonal interpretations misrepresent.

  3. 3

    To learn this science, one should take shelter of a representative of Śrī Śukadeva and follow Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s example. A careful student stays alert to interpretations that distort the Lord’s personal nature.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the science of the Personality of Godhead.
  • To learn this science one should take shelter of the representative of Śrī Śukadeva and follow in the footsteps of Mahārāja Parīkṣit without foolishly attempting to interpret, thereby committing a great offense at the feet 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.

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. prāhahe said
  2. bhāgavatamthe science of the Personality of Godhead
  3. nāmaof the name
  4. purāṇamthe supplement of the Vedas
  5. brahma-sammitamjust in pursuance of the Vedas
  6. brahmaṇeunto Lord Brahmā
  7. bhagavat-proktamwas spoken by the Personality of Godhead
  8. brahma-kalpethe millennium in which Brahmā was first generated
  9. upāgatejust in the beginning
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “inquiries”, “knowledge”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 2.8

    In this verse: “shelter”

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 willing to learn about the Personality of Godhead through devotional guidance rather than impose my own interpretation?

Practice

Reread the translation today and write down what it says about the source of this knowledge.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLearn the Science of the Personal LordThis 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 2.8.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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