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

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Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 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 8 · Chapter 1: The Manus, Administrators of the Universe
8.1.108.1.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.1.11

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Manusince 8.1.9inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यं पश्यति न पश्यन्तं चक्षुर्यस्य न रिष्यति ।

तं भूतनिलयं देवं सुपर्णमुपधावत ॥ ११ ॥

yaṁ paśyati na paśyantaṁ

cakṣur yasya na riṣyati

taṁ bhūta-nilayaṁ devaṁ

suparṇam upadhāvata

Translation

Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead constantly watches the activities of the world, no one sees Him. However, one should not think that because no one sees Him, He does not see, for His power to see is never diminished. Therefore, everyone should worship the Supersoul, who always stays with the individual soul as a friend.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Supersoul Always Watches as Our Friend

  1. 1

    Although we cannot see Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He always sees our activities. His vigilance is never diminished.

  2. 2

    The spiritual master opens the disciple’s eyes of knowledge. By following his instructions and studying authorized literatures, we can learn to perceive the Lord’s presence everywhere.

  3. 3

    As the Supersoul, the Lord stays within every heart as a friend, witness and adviser. We should worship Him and take His presence into account in our daily affairs.

Key points from the purport
  • In Bhagavad-gītā it is said that one can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead through jñāna-cakṣuṣaḥ, eyes of knowledge.
  • When the disciple is awakened from ignorance to knowledge, he can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead everywhere because the Lord actually is everywhere.
  • Similarly, although we cannot see the Supreme Personality of Godhead in our present darkness, our lack of knowledge, He is always present, seeing our activities.

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 8.1.11 quotesBG 4.1

Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (4.1), imaṁ vivasvate yogaṁ proktavān aham avyayam: “I spoke this science of God — Bhagavad-gītā — to the sun-god at least forty million years ago.”

The purport of SB 8.1.11 quotesBG 15.15

This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15).

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

Helplessness → Surrender and rescue. A mighty animal finally realizes the limits of strength.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 8: Gajendra's struggle and prayers. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: The Manus, Administrators of the Universe

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Fortunately, scholars all over the world are appreciating these publications. Let us cooperatively publish more and more volumes of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam just to please His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yamHe who
  2. paśyatithe living entity sees
  3. nanot
  4. paśyantamalthough always seeing
  5. cakṣuḥeye
  6. yasyawhose
  7. nanever
  8. riṣyatidiminishes
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 8.1

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 8.1

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.1

    In this verse: “knowledge”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How would remembering the Lord as your constant friend change your daily activities?

Practice

Pause before one activity today and remember that the Supersoul is present with you as your friend and witness.

5

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.1's connections

Live this todayThe Supersoul Always Watches as Our FriendThis 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 8.1.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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