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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
2.9.162.9.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.9.17

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 2.9.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अध्यर्हणीयासनमास्थितं परं

वृतं चतु:षोडशपञ्चशक्तिभि: ।

युक्तं भगै: स्वैरितरत्र चाध्रुवै:

स्व एव धामन् रममाणमीश्वरम् ॥ १७ ॥

adhyarhaṇīyāsanam āsthitaṁ paraṁ

vṛtaṁ catuḥ-ṣoḍaśa-pañca-śaktibhiḥ

yuktaṁ bhagaiḥ svair itaratra cādhruvaiḥ

sva eva dhāman ramamāṇam īśvaram

Translation

The Lord was seated on His throne and was surrounded by different energies like the four, the sixteen, the five, and the six natural opulences, along with other insignificant energies of the temporary character. But He was the factual Supreme Lord, enjoying His own abode.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Service, Not Temporary Powers

  1. 1

    The Lord naturally possesses the greatest wealth, power, fame, beauty, knowledge and renunciation. No one is equal to or greater than Him.

  2. 2

    The material creative energies and the temporary powers attained by yogīs are under His control. A living being’s acquired powers never make that being the Supreme Lord.

  3. 3

    Unalloyed devotees want nothing from the Lord except His transcendental service. He is so pleased with their service that He gives Himself in exchange.

Key points from the purport
  • The insignificant opulences numbering eight (the aṣṭa-siddhis, attained by yogīs for temporary overlordship) are also under His control, but He is naturally full with all such powers without any effort, and therefore He is the Supreme Lord.
  • The Supreme Lord, by His own potency, is unlimitedly more powerful than any yogī, He is unlimitedly more learned than any jñānī, He is unlimitedly richer than any wealthy person, He is unlimitedly more beautiful than any beautiful living being, and He is unlimitedly more charitable than any philanthropist.
  • Out of His immensely charitable disposition He can award some temporary powers to the yogīs because of the yogīs’ hankering after them, but to His unalloyed devotees, who do not want anything from the Lord save and except His transcendental service, the Lord is so pleased that He gives Himself in exchange for unalloyed service.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. adhyarhaṇīyagreatly worshipable
  2. āsanamthrone
  3. āsthitamseated on it
  4. paramthe Supreme
  5. vṛtamsurrounded by
  6. catuḥfour, namely prakṛti, puruṣa, mahat and ego
  7. ṣoḍaśathe sixteen
  8. pañcathe five
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.9

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • 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

Am I seeking something from the Lord, or learning to desire His service itself?

Practice

Offer a short prayer asking for the opportunity to serve the Lord rather than for personal power or gain.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek Service, Not Temporary PowersThis 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 2.9.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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