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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
2.9.282.9.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.9.29

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
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

भगवच्छिक्षितमहं करवाणि ह्यतन्द्रित: ।

नेहमान: प्रजासर्गं बध्येयं यदनुग्रहात् ॥ २९ ॥

bhagavac-chikṣitam ahaṁ

karavāṇi hy atandritaḥ

nehamānaḥ prajā-sargaṁ

badhyeyaṁ yad-anugrahāt

Translation

Please tell me so that I may be taught in the matter by the instruction of the Personality of Godhead and may thus act instrumentally to generate living entities, without being conditioned by such activities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve as an Instrument Without Pride

  1. 1

    Brahmājī seeks the Lord’s instruction so that he can act as His instrument without becoming bound by his work. He does not want to depend on personal speculation.

  2. 2

    Being an instrument of the Lord’s direct will is the living entity’s natural position. Being controlled by His illusory energy is material bondage.

  3. 3

    The Lord directly guides pure devotees constantly engaged in loving service. Such devotees progress toward Godhead without becoming proud, and Brahmā asks to be protected from that pride.

Key points from the purport
  • A conditioned soul is instrumental in the hands of the external energy, guṇamayī māyā, or the illusory energy of the Lord, and in the liberated stage the living entity is instrumental to the will of the Personality of Godhead directly.
  • To be instrumental to the direct will of the Lord is the natural constitutional position of the living entity, whereas to be an instrument in the hands of the illusory energy of the Lord is material bondage for the living entity.
  • But in the unconditioned stage the living entity directly receives knowledge from the Lord, and such a liberated soul acts flawlessly, without any speculative habit.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 2.9.29 quotesBG 10.10

The Bhagavad-gītā (10.10-11) confirms emphatically that the pure devotees, who are constantly engaged in the loving transcendental service of the Lord, are directly advised by the Lord, so much so that the devotee unwaveringly makes progress on the path home, back to Godhead.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. bhagavatby the Personality of Godhead
  2. śikṣitamtaught
  3. ahammyself
  4. karavāṇiby acting
  5. hicertainly
  6. atandritaḥinstrumental
  7. nanever
  8. ihamānaḥalthough acting
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 2.9

    In this verse: “pride”, “proud”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where might pride in my own knowledge keep me from receiving the Lord’s instruction?

Practice

Before one task today, pause and pray to act as the Lord’s instrument rather than claim independent credit.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServe as an Instrument Without PrideThis 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 2.9.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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