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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

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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 9: Answers by Citing the Lord’s Version

2.9.24 2.9.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.9.25

Āśraya· The supreme shelter

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 2.9.25inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitThe Supreme Lord → Lord Brahmā

ब्रह्मोवाच

भगवन् सर्वभूतानामध्यक्षोऽवस्थितो गुहाम् ।

वेद ह्यप्रतिरुद्धेन प्रज्ञानेन चिकीर्षितम् ॥ २५ ॥

brahmovāca

bhagavan sarva-bhūtānām

adhyakṣo ’vasthito guhām

veda hy apratiruddhena

prajñānena cikīrṣitam

Translation

Lord Brahmā said: O Personality of Godhead, You are situated in every living entity’s heart as the supreme director, and therefore You are aware of all endeavors by Your superior intelligence, without any hindrance whatsoever.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Perfect Your Desires by Serving the Lord

1
The Lord is present in everyone’s heart as witness and supreme director. He knows every endeavor, sanctions its fulfillment and awards the resulting reaction.
2
Desire cannot be abolished, because desiring is a symptom of life. Serving bodily whims does not bring real benefit.
3
Desires become perfect when one desires to serve the Lord and cooperate with His desires. Oneness with Him means bringing our desires into agreement with His.

Key points from the purport

With such desires in mind, the living entity does not actually enjoy, but he serves the bodily whims unnecessarily, without profit.
Perfection of desires may be achieved when one desires to serve the Lord, and the Lord also desires that every living entity banish all personal desires and cooperate with His desires.
The Lord, as the Supersoul in the heart of every living being, knows what is in the mind of each living entity, and no one can do anything without the knowledge of the Lord within.

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