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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
2.9.52.9.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.9.6

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 2.9.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स चिन्तयन् द्वय‍क्षरमेकदाम्भ-

स्युपाश‍ृणोद् द्विर्गदितं वचो विभु: ।

स्पर्शेषु यत्षोडशमेकविंशं

निष्किञ्चनानां नृप यद् धनं विदु: ॥ ६ ॥

sa cintayan dvy-akṣaram ekadāmbhasy

upāśṛṇod dvir-gaditaṁ vaco vibhuḥ

sparśeṣu yat ṣoḍaśam ekaviṁśaṁ

niṣkiñcanānāṁ nṛpa yad dhanaṁ viduḥ

Translation

While thus engaged in thinking, in the water, Brahmājī heard twice from nearby two syllables joined together. One of the syllables was taken from the sixteenth and the other from the twenty-first of the sparśa alphabets, and both joined to become the wealth of the renounced order of life.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Penance Leads Us Back to Godhead

  1. 1

    The syllables ta and pa form tapa, or penance, the wealth of the renounced order. Human life is meant for self-realization, not merely for sense gratification.

  2. 2

    Brahmā was initiated by Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself and became a devotee before constructing the universe. His example directs us toward devotion to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    The disciple receives initiation through disciplic succession and accepts the path of tapasya. Chanting the holy mantra is the shelter of the desireless pure devotee.

Key points from the purport
  • So Brahmājī was thus initiated by Lord Kṛṣṇa, and this fact is corroborated by Brahmājī himself in his book the Brahma-saṁhitā.
  • Thus Brahmā was initiated by the Kṛṣṇa mantra, by Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, and thus he became a Vaiṣṇava, or a devotee of the Lord, before he was able to construct the huge universe.
  • Simply by such tapasya, or penance, the devotee of the Lord achieves all perfections like Lord Brahmā.

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. cintayanwhile thus thinking
  3. dvitwo
  4. akṣaramsyllables
  5. ekadāonce upon a time
  6. ambhasiin the water
  7. upāśṛṇotheard it nearby
  8. dviḥtwice
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.9

    In this verse: “wealth”, “sense gratification”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 2.9

    In this verse: “heard”, “chanting”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotee”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where could I give more attention to self-realization rather than sense gratification?

Practice

Set aside one unnecessary pleasure today and use that time to chant the Lord’s holy name.

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 todayPenance Leads Us Back to GodheadThis 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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