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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 5 · The Creative Impetus · 26 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 5 · Chapter 20: Studying the Structure of the Universe
5.20.275.20.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.20.28

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.20.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अन्त:प्रविश्य भूतानि यो बिभर्त्यात्मकेतुभि: ।

अन्तर्यामीश्वर: साक्षात्पातु नो यद्वशे स्फुटम् ॥ २८ ॥

antaḥ-praviśya bhūtāni

yo bibharty ātma-ketubhiḥ

antaryāmīśvaraḥ sākṣāt

pātu no yad-vaśe sphuṭam

Translation

[The inhabitants of Śākadvīpa worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of Vāyu in the following words.] O Supreme Person, situated as the Supersoul within the body, You direct the various actions of the different airs, such as prāṇa, and thus You maintain all living entities. O Lord, O Supersoul of everyone, O controller of the cosmic manifestation under whom everything exists, may You protect us from all dangers.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Supersoul Maintains All Living Entities

  1. 1

    The Supreme Person, present within the body as the Supersoul, directs the different airs, such as prāṇa. In this way, He maintains all living entities.

  2. 2

    Through prāṇāyāma, the yogī controls the bodily airs and approaches samādhi, or trance. The purpose is full absorption in seeing the Supreme Lord as antaryāmī, the Supersoul within the heart.

  3. 3

    The inhabitants pray to the Lord as the controller of the cosmic manifestation. They ask Him to protect them from all dangers.

Key points from the purport
  • Through the mystic yoga practice called prāṇāyāma, the yogī controls the airs within the body to maintain the body in a healthy condition.
  • In this way, the yogī comes to the point of trance and tries to see the Supersoul within the core of his heart.
  • Prāṇāyāma is the means to attain samādhi, trance, in order to fully absorb oneself in seeing the Supreme Lord as antaryāmī, the Supersoul within the core of the heart.

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

Smallness → Awe and reverence. A vast cosmos changes the reader's perspective.

Chapters 15–25 of Canto 5: The cosmic regions and divine worship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 20: Studying the Structure of the Universe

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Its inhabitants worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of Vāyu, air. The sixth island, Puṣkaradvīpa, which is twice as wide as the previous island, is surrounded by an ocean of clear water.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. antaḥ-praviśyaentering within
  2. bhūtāniall living entities
  3. yaḥwho
  4. bibhartimaintains
  5. ātma-ketubhiḥby the functions of the inner airs ( prāṇa, apāna, etc.)
  6. antaryāmīthe Supersoul within
  7. īśvaraḥthe Supreme Person
  8. sākṣātdirectly
3

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 5.20

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 5.20

    In this verse: “dangers”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 5.20

    In this verse: “protect”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might remembering the Supersoul’s presence deepen your prayer for protection?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to the Supreme Lord within the heart, acknowledging His maintenance and asking for His protection.

Live this todayThe Supersoul Maintains All Living EntitiesThis 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 5.20.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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