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Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto

Canto 2 · The Cosmic Manifestation · 10 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

2.8.3 2.8.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.8.4

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

श‍ृण्वत: श्रद्धया नित्यं गृणतश्च स्वचेष्टितम् ।

कालेन नातिदीर्घेण भगवान् विशते हृदि ॥ ४ ॥

śṛṇvataḥ śraddhayā nityaṁ

gṛṇataś ca sva-ceṣṭitam

kālena nātidīrgheṇa

bhagavān viśate hṛdi

Translation

Persons who hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regularly and are always taking the matter very seriously will have the Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa manifested in their hearts within a short time.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear Regularly With Serious Devotion

1
Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, becomes manifest in the hearts of those who hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regularly and earnestly.
2
This requires one’s own effort and serious devotion. Hiring a professional reciter cannot mechanically produce this result on one’s behalf.
3
Material attachment and seeing the Lord face to face cannot go together. The recommended way is regular hearing without seeking material benefit.

Key points from the purport

Cheap devotees or materialistic devotees of the Lord are very much desirous to see the Lord personally without meeting the requisite qualifications.
Mahārāja Parīkṣit had no more than seven days to live, but for others Mahārāja Parīkṣit personally recommends that one hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regularly, nityam, always by one’s own effort and with serious devotion also.
The pseudodevotee, however, is very anxious to see the Lord according to his whims, not making any serious effort to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regularly and without detachment from material benefit.

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

śṛṇvataḥof those who hear
śraddhayāin earnestness
nityamregularly, always
gṛṇataḥtaking the matter
caalso
sva-ceṣṭitamseriously by one’s own endeavor
kālenaduration
nanot

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
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.8
In this verse: “attachment”, “material”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 2.8
In this verse: “hearing”, “reciter”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.8
In this verse: “devotion”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What would make my hearing more regular and sincere?

Practice

Choose a fixed time for daily hearing of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and begin today.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear Regularly With Serious DevotionOne of the 108 chosen lessons: a practice and a question from this verse

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 2.8.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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