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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
2.9.222.9.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.9.23

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

प्रत्यादिष्टं मया तत्र त्वयि कर्मविमोहिते ।

तपो मे हृदयं साक्षादात्माहं तपसोऽनघ ॥ २३ ॥

pratyādiṣṭaṁ mayā tatra

tvayi karma-vimohite

tapo me hṛdayaṁ sākṣād

ātmāhaṁ tapaso ’nagha

Translation

O sinless Brahmā, you may know from Me that it was I who first ordered you to undergo penance when you were perplexed in your duty. Such penance is My heart and soul, and therefore penance and I are nondifferent.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Penance Frees Us From Material Attachment

  1. 1

    The penance by which one approaches the Lord is devotional service in transcendental love. It is His internal potency and is nondifferent from Him.

  2. 2

    Devotional service brings detachment from the desire to dominate and enjoy the material world. Such penance includes both knowledge and detachment.

  3. 3

    Love and penance combined please the Lord and bring His mercy. Brahmājī was sinless and faithfully followed the Lord’s advice.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore the penance of devotional service includes knowledge and detachment, and that is the manifestation of the transcendental potency.
  • The foolish devotee of the Lord is thus put into forcible penance by the grace of the Lord, and at the end the devotee becomes perfectly happy, being engaged in the service of the Lord.
  • Therefore penance in devotional service of the Lord, either by voluntary submission or by being forced by the Lord, is necessary for attaining perfection, and thus such penance is the internal potency 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 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. pratyādiṣṭamordered
  2. mayāby Me
  3. tatrabecause of
  4. tvayiunto you
  5. karmaduty
  6. vimohitebeing perplexed
  7. tapaḥpenance
  8. meMe
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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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 2.9

    In this verse: “duty”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 2.9

    In this verse: “mercy”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which desire for material enjoyment distracts me from lovingly serving the Lord?

Practice

Set aside one optional material enjoyment today and use that time for devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLoving Penance Frees Us From Material AttachmentThis 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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