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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
2.9.292.9.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.9.30

Mukti· Liberation
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

यावत् सखा सख्युरिवेश ते कृत:

प्रजाविसर्गे विभजामि भो जनम् ।

अविक्लवस्ते परिकर्मणि स्थितो

मा मे समुन्नद्धमदोऽजमानिन: ॥ ३० ॥

yāvat sakhā sakhyur iveśa te kṛtaḥ

prajā-visarge vibhajāmi bho janam

aviklavas te parikarmaṇi sthito

mā me samunnaddha-mado ’ja māninaḥ

Translation

O my Lord, the unborn, You have shaken hands with me just as a friend does with a friend [as if equal in position]. I shall be engaged in the creation of different types of living entities, and I shall be occupied in Your service. I shall have no perturbation, but I pray that all this may not give rise to pride, as if I were the Supreme.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve Without Taking Pride

  1. 1

    Brahmā is related to the Lord in transcendental friendship, yet he remains the Lord’s servant. No one is equal to or greater than the Lord.

  2. 2

    Brahmā does not create the living entities themselves; he is empowered to give them bodies according to their previous work. He knows that he is only an instrument of the Lord.

  3. 3

    Whatever extraordinary power a devotee receives belongs to the Personality of Godhead. The credit for successful service goes to the Lord, not to the doer.

Key points from the purport
  • Brahmājī, although eternally related with the Lord in the transcendental humor of friendship, and although entrusted with the most exalted post of creating different grades of living entities, is still conscious of his position, that he is neither the Supreme Lord nor supremely powerful.
  • Still the pure devotee knows that this power is a vibhūti delegated by the Lord, and such a delegated powerful living entity is never independent.
  • Factually Lord Brahmā does not create the living entities.

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. yāvatas it is
  2. sakhāfriend
  3. sakhyuḥunto the friend
  4. ivalike that
  5. īśaO Lord
  6. teYou
  7. kṛtaḥhave accepted
  8. prajāthe living entities
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 2.9

    In this verse: “friend”, “friendship”

  • Dainya · Humility

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

    In this verse: “pride”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When something goes well, do I remember the Lord’s power or take all the credit myself?

Practice

Before one duty today, pray that you may carry it out as the Lord’s servant without becoming proud.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 2.9's connections

Live this todayServe Without Taking 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 2.9.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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