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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 9: Answers by Citing the Lord’s Version
2.9.152.9.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.9.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 2.9.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

भृत्यप्रसादाभिमुखं द‍ृगासवं

प्रसन्नहासारुणलोचनाननम् ।

किरीटिनं कुण्डलिनं चतुर्भुजं

पीतांशुकं वक्षसि लक्षितं श्रिया ॥ १६ ॥

bhṛtya-prasādābhimukhaṁ dṛg-āsavaṁ

prasanna-hāsāruṇa-locanānanam

kirīṭinaṁ kuṇḍalinaṁ catur-bhujaṁ

pītāṁśukaṁ vakṣasi lakṣitaṁ śriyā

Translation

The Personality of Godhead, seen leaning favorably towards His loving servitors, His very sight intoxicating and attractive, appeared to be very much satisfied. He had a smiling face decorated with an enchanting reddish hue. He was dressed in yellow robes and wore earrings and a helmet on his head. He had four hands, and His chest was marked with the lines of the goddess of fortune.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Welcomes His Loving Servitors

  1. 1

    The Lord appeared satisfied, smiling and favorably inclined toward His loving servitors. His form was enchanting and attractive.

  2. 2

    The purport describes the yoga-pīṭha, where the Lord receives His eternal devotees. Religion, knowledge, opulence and renunciation are personally seated at His lotus feet.

  3. 3

    The four Vedas are personally present to advise the Lord, and His energies are also present. His palace is beautifully decorated and protected by doorkeepers.

Key points from the purport
  • In the Padma Purāṇa, Uttara-khaṇḍa, there is a full description of the yoga-pīṭha, or the particular place where the Lord is in audience to His eternal devotees.
  • The four Vedas, namely Ṛk, Sāma, Yajur and Atharva, are present there personally to advise the Lord.
  • There are other doorkeepers also, named Kumuda, Kumudākṣa, Puṇḍarīka, Vāmana, Śaṅkukarṇa, Sarvanetra, Sumukha, etc. The Lord’s palace is well decorated and protected by the above-mentioned doorkeepers.

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 9: Answers by Citing the Lord’s Version

The Lord receives Brahmā, explains His eternal existence, and instructs him to remain fixed and free from pride.

Back to this verse in chapter 2.9
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhṛtyathe servitor
  2. prasādaaffection
  3. abhimukhamfavorably facing
  4. dṛkthe very sight
  5. āsavaman intoxication
  6. prasannavery much pleased
  7. hāsasmile
  8. aruṇareddish
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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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 2.9

    In this verse: “favorably”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.9

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 2.9

    In this verse: “knowledge”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the Lord’s favorable attention toward His servitors affect my desire to serve Him?

Practice

Reread the description of the Lord’s smiling face and spend a quiet moment reflecting on His affection for His servitors.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

7

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 2.9's connections

Live this todayThe Lord Welcomes His Loving ServitorsThis 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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