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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
2.9.192.9.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.9.20

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The beautiful Personality of Godheadsince 2.9.20inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitThe Supreme Lord → Lord Brahmā

श्रीभगवानुवाच

त्वयाहं तोषित: सम्यग् वेदगर्भ सिसृक्षया ।

चिरं भृतेन तपसा दुस्तोष: कूटयोगिनाम् ॥ २० ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

tvayāhaṁ toṣitaḥ samyag

veda-garbha sisṛkṣayā

ciraṁ bhṛtena tapasā

dustoṣaḥ kūṭa-yoginām

Translation

The beautiful Personality of Godhead addressed Lord Brahmā: O Brahmā, impregnated with the Vedas, I am very much pleased with your long-accumulated penance with the desire for creation. Hardly am I pleased with the pseudo mystics.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Direct Effort Toward the Lord’s Satisfaction

  1. 1

    Penance may be undertaken for one’s own sense gratification or for self-realization and the Lord’s satisfaction. Severe effort alone does not please Him.

  2. 2

    The Lord wants His parts and parcels to return home to Godhead and attain eternal life and bliss. Brahmā’s penance served this purpose, so the Lord was pleased with him.

  3. 3

    The ultimate purpose of Vedic knowledge is to know the Lord. Using it for ulterior motives instead of this purpose is the way of pseudo transcendentalists.

Key points from the purport
  • Brahmā underwent severe penances for that purpose, namely to regulate the process of creation so that the Lord might be satisfied.
  • Therefore the Lord was very much pleased with him, and for this Brahmā was impregnated with Vedic knowledge.
  • The ultimate purpose of Vedic knowledge is to know the Lord and not to misuse the knowledge for any other purposes.

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. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe all-beautiful Personality of Godhead said
  2. tvayāby you
  3. ahamI am
  4. toṣitaḥpleased
  5. samyakcomplete
  6. veda-garbhaimpregnated with the Vedas
  7. sisṛkṣayāfor creating
  8. ciramfor a long time
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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 2.9

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Is my spiritual effort directed toward knowing and satisfying the Lord, or toward an ulterior motive?

Practice

Before studying today, pause and state your intention: “May this study help me know and satisfy the Lord.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDirect Effort Toward the Lord’s SatisfactionThis 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 2.9.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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