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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

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

2.9.44 2.9.46

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.9.45

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

नारद: प्राह मुनये सरस्वत्यास्तटे नृप ।

ध्यायते ब्रह्म परमं व्यासायामिततेजसे ॥ ४५ ॥

nāradaḥ prāha munaye

sarasvatyās taṭe nṛpa

dhyāyate brahma paramaṁ

vyāsāyāmita-tejase

Translation

In succession, O King, the great sage Nārada instructed Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam unto the unlimitedly powerful Vyāsadeva, who meditated in devotional service upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth, on the bank of the river Sarasvatī.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Meditate on the Supreme Person’s Activities

1
Nārada taught Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to Vyāsadeva, who meditated in devotional service on the bank of the Sarasvatī. He advised Vyāsadeva to meditate upon the Lord’s transcendental activities.
2
Devotees practicing bhakti-yoga meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead rather than the impersonal Brahman. This Supreme Brahman is Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
3
The perfection of meditation is realization of the Personality of Godhead along with His transcendental activities. These activities have no material quality, and māyā cannot overcome Him.

Key points from the purport

Śrī Nārada Muni, as the spiritual master of Vyāsadeva, knew very well the position of Vyāsadeva, and thus he certified the qualities of Śrīla Vyāsadeva as fixed in the Absolute Truth with great vow, etc. Nārada advised meditation upon the transcendental activities of the Lord.
If the activities of the Supreme Brahman were material activities, then Nārada would not have advised Vyāsadeva to meditate upon them.
Arjuna summarized the purpose of the Bhagavad-gītā by his realization of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and thus said, “My dear Personality of Godhead, You are the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Original Person in the eternal form of bliss and knowledge, and this is confirmed by Nārada, Asita, Devala and Vyāsadeva, and, above all, Your personal self has also confirmed it.”

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 2.9.45 quotesBG 10.12

Arjuna summarized the purpose of the Bhagavad-gītā by his realization of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and thus said, “My dear Personality of Godhead, You are the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Original Person in the eternal form of bliss and knowledge, and this is confirmed by Nārada, Asita, Devala and Vyāsadeva, and, above all, Your personal self has also confirmed it.”

The purport of SB 2.9.45 quotesBG 12.5

Meditation on the impersonal Brahman is a troublesome business for the meditator, as confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (12.5): kleśo ’dhikataras teṣām avyaktāsakta-cetasām.

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.

nāradaḥthe great sage Nārada
prāhainstructed
munayeunto the great sage
sarasvatyāḥof the river Sarasvatī
taṭeon the bank
nṛpaO King
dhyāyateunto the meditative
brahmaAbsolute Truth

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
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.9
In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”, “bhakti-yoga”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 2.9
In this verse: “absolute truth”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.9
In this verse: “māyā”, “material”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make my meditation an act of devotional service to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute reflecting on the purport’s teaching that Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Person and His activities are transcendental.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMeditate on the Supreme Person’s ActivitiesThis 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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