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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
2.9.42.9.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.9.5

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 2.9.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स आदिदेवो जगतां परो गुरु:

स्वधिष्ण्यमास्थाय सिसृक्षयैक्षत ।

तां नाध्यगच्छद् द‍ृशमत्र सम्मतां

प्रपञ्चनिर्माणविधिर्यया भवेत् ॥ ५ ॥

sa ādi-devo jagatāṁ paro guruḥ

svadhiṣṇyam āsthāya sisṛkṣayaikṣata

tāṁ nādhyagacchad dṛśam atra sammatāṁ

prapañca-nirmāṇa-vidhir yayā bhavet

Translation

Lord Brahmā, the first spiritual master, supreme in the universe, could not trace out the source of his lotus seat, and while thinking of creating the material world, he could not understand the proper direction for such creative work, nor could he find out the process for such creation.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Perfect Knowledge Depends on the Lord’s Mercy

  1. 1

    Although Brahmā was the first spiritual master and supreme within the universe, he could not trace the source of his lotus seat. He also could not determine the proper direction or process for creation.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s abode is beyond the deluding material energy; the Vaikuṇṭhas are real transcendental planets. Knowledge of this spiritual realm is gained through devotional service, or bhakti-yoga.

  3. 3

    Brahmā received knowledge and creative power through bhakti-yoga and the Lord’s grace. Perfect knowledge requires the Lord’s mercy, not merely the strength of personal effort.

Key points from the purport
  • The power of creation by Lord Brahmā was also achieved by bhakti-yoga.
  • By bhakti-yoga one can know the Lord, and by knowing the Lord as the Supreme, one is able to know everything else.
  • Even the first spiritual master of the universe was enlightened by the grace of the Lord, so who else can attain perfect knowledge of everything without the mercy of 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.

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. saḥhe
  2. ādi-devaḥthe first demigod
  3. jagatāmof the universe
  4. paraḥsupreme
  5. guruḥspiritual master
  6. svadhiṣṇyamhis lotus seat
  7. āsthāyato find the source of it
  8. sisṛkṣayāfor the matter of creating the universal affairs
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”, “knowledge”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 2.9

    In this verse: “mercy”, “grace”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What can Brahmā’s initial bewilderment teach me about relying only on my own understanding?

Practice

Before studying today, pause and ask the Lord for His mercy to understand Him through devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

5 lectures given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Show 3 more lectures on it
Live this todayPerfect Knowledge Depends on the Lord’s MercyThis 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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