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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
8.1.158.1.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.1.16

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Manusince 8.1.9inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तमीहमानं निरहङ्‌कृतं बुधं

निराशिषं पूर्णमनन्यचोदितम् ।

नृञ् शिक्षयन्तं निजवर्त्मसंस्थितं

प्रभुं प्रपद्येऽखिलधर्मभावनम् ॥ १६ ॥

tam īhamānaṁ nirahaṅkṛtaṁ budhaṁ

nirāśiṣaṁ pūrṇam ananya-coditam

nṝñ śikṣayantaṁ nija-vartma-saṁsthitaṁ

prabhuṁ prapadye ’khila-dharma-bhāvanam

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, works just like an ordinary human being, yet He does not desire to enjoy the fruits of work. He is full in knowledge, free from material desires and diversions, and completely independent. As the supreme teacher of human society, He teaches His own way of activities, and thus He inaugurates the real path of religion. I request everyone to follow Him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow the Supreme Lord’s Instructions

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although He acts like an ordinary human being, He is completely independent and does not desire the fruits of work.

  2. 2

    The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement asks everyone to follow Kṛṣṇa’s instructions in Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. The Lord teaches human society by His instructions and His practical example.

  3. 3

    As Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the Lord teaches devotional service and detachment from whatever does not foster Kṛṣṇa consciousness. His purpose is to make our lives successful by teaching us to follow Him.

Key points from the purport
  • The organizer of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is teaching everyone how to follow Lord Rāmacandra, how to follow Lord Kṛṣṇa, and how to follow Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
  • Thus the Lord teaches us in different ways just to make our lives successful, and Svāyambhuva Manu requests us to follow Him.
  • Herein he directs us to follow the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His different incarnations.

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· 1

The purport of SB 8.1.16 quotesCC Madhya 7.128

In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land.”

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:

Now, in this year, 1976, I have completed the Seventh Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and a summary of the Tenth Canto has already been published as Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Still, the Eighth Canto, Ninth Canto, Tenth Canto, Eleventh Canto and Twelfth Canto are yet to be published.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamunto the same Supreme Personality of Godhead
  2. īhamānamwho is acting for our benefit
  3. nirahaṅkṛtamwho is without entanglement or desire for gain
  4. budhamwho is completely in knowledge
  5. nirāśiṣamwithout desires to enjoy the fruits of His activities
  6. pūrṇamwho is full and therefore has no need to fulfill desires
  7. ananyaby others
  8. coditaminduced or inspired
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 8.1

    In this verse: “free from”, “detachment”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.1

    In this verse: “material”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 8.1

    In this verse: “religion”

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

What can I change today to follow Kṛṣṇa’s instructions more faithfully?

Practice

Read one instruction from Bhagavad-gītā As It Is and choose one concrete way to follow it today.

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 todayFollow the Supreme Lord’s InstructionsThis 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 8.1.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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