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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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

2.9.34 2.9.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.9.35

Āśraya· The supreme shelter

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:The Personality of Godheadsince 2.9.31inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitThe Supreme Lord → Lord Brahmā

यथा महान्ति भूतानि भूतेषूच्चावचेष्वनु ।

प्रविष्टान्यप्रविष्टानि तथा तेषु न तेष्वहम् ॥ ३५ ॥

yathā mahānti bhūtāni

bhūteṣūccāvaceṣv anu

praviṣṭāny apraviṣṭāni

tathā teṣu na teṣv aham

Translation

O Brahmā, please know that the universal elements enter into the cosmos and at the same time do not enter into the cosmos; similarly, I Myself also exist within everything created, and at the same time I am outside of everything.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Is Within Everything and Beyond

1
Earth, water, fire, air and ether enter material bodies, yet also exist beyond them. Similarly, the Supreme Lord is within everything through His energies and also remains outside everything in His own abode.
2
Govinda, the Personality of Godhead, enters every universe and every atom without losing His personal form. Pure devotees can perceive His presence while also understanding His eternal pastimes in Goloka.
3
This mystery is revealed through love of Godhead, not intellectual speculation alone. Such love is attained only through transcendental loving service, which purifies the devotee’s vision.

Key points from the purport

That is the mystery of knowledge of the Personality of Godhead.
As the Lord’s desire is infallible because He is acyuta, similarly the desires of the devotees in the transcendental service of the Lord are also acyuta, infallible.
Brahmājī said to Nārada, “Whatever I have spoken to you about the Bhāgavatam was explained to me by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and I am advising you to expand these topics nicely so that people may easily understand the mysterious bhakti-yoga by transcendental loving service to 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.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of SB 2.9.35 quotesBG 18.64

In the Bhagavad-gītā (18.64) the Lord therefore advised Arjuna about this bhakti-yoga: “Just hear from Me again about the most confidential part of the instructions in Bhagavad-gītā.”

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 25.126

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.9.35).

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

yathājust as
mahāntithe universal
bhūtānielements
bhūteṣu ucca-avaceṣuin the minute and gigantic
anuafter
praviṣṭānientered
apraviṣṭāninot entered
tathāso

Key ideas in this verse

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

Āśraya · The summum bonum
Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.9
In this verse: “devotees”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 2.9
In this verse: “understanding”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.9
In this verse: “material”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might remembering the Lord’s presence help me approach devotional service with greater care?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute worshiping Govinda in your heart, remembering that He is present everywhere and also remains in His own abode.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Lecture on SB 3.25.365 Dec 1974 · BombayFind the quote

Live this todayThe Lord Is Within Everything and BeyondThis 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 2.9.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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