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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.
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Canto 2 · Chapter 9: Answers by Citing the Lord’s Version
2.9.422.9.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.9.43

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 2.9.38inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तुष्टं निशाम्य पितरं लोकानां प्रपितामहम् ।

देवर्षि: परिपप्रच्छ भवान् यन्मानुपृच्छति ॥ ४३ ॥

tuṣṭaṁ niśāmya pitaraṁ

lokānāṁ prapitāmaham

devarṣiḥ paripapraccha

bhavān yan mānupṛcchati

Translation

The great sage Nārada also inquired in detail from his father, Brahmā, the great-grandfather of all the universe, after seeing him well satisfied.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Receive Knowledge Through Devotion and Service

  1. 1

    Transcendental knowledge is received from an authorized, realized spiritual master through surrender, questions and service. It is not something purchased like ordinary information.

  2. 2

    Unflinching devotion to the Lord and the spiritual master allows spiritual knowledge to be revealed. A genuine spiritual master must first have strictly followed his own spiritual master.

  3. 3

    Both disciple and spiritual master require sense control, not merely a formal relationship. This discipline includes controlling speech, anger, the tongue, the mind, the belly and the genitals.

Key points from the purport
  • Receiving transcendental knowledge is not like exchanging dollars; such knowledge has to be received by service to the spiritual master.
  • Brahmājī, as a disciple of the Supreme Lord, received the real knowledge and imparted it to his dear disciple Nārada, and similarly Nārada, as spiritual master, handed over this knowledge to Vyāsa and so on.
  • Therefore the so-called formal spiritual master and disciple are not facsimiles of Brahmā and Nārada or Nārada and Vyāsa.

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 2.9.43 quotesBG 4.34

In the Bhagavad-gītā (4.34) the process of understanding transcendental knowledge is directed as follows: Arjuna was advised to receive transcendental knowledge from the realized person by surrender, questions and service.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tuṣṭamsatisfied
  2. niśāmyaafter seeing
  3. pitaramthe father
  4. lokānāmof the whole universe
  5. prapitāmahamthe great-grandfather
  6. devarṣiḥthe great sage Nārada
  7. paripapracchainquired
  8. bhavānyourself
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 2.9

    In this verse: “inquired”, “knowledge”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 2.9

    In this verse: “father”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I support my spiritual questions with sincere service and self-discipline?

Practice

Practice control of speech today: pause before responding in anger and choose restrained words.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReceive Knowledge Through Devotion and ServiceThis 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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