1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
8.1.88.1.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.1.9

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

मनुरुवाच

येन चेतयते विश्वं विश्वं चेतयते न यम् ।

यो जागर्ति शयानेऽस्मिन्नायं तं वेद वेद स: ॥ ९ ॥

śrī-manur uvāca

yena cetayate viśvaṁ

viśvaṁ cetayate na yam

yo jāgarti śayāne ’smin

nāyaṁ taṁ veda veda saḥ

Translation

Lord Manu said: The supreme living being has created this material world of animation; it is not that He was created by this material world. When everything is silent, the Supreme Being stays awake as a witness. The living entity does not know Him, but He knows everything.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Supreme Lord Always Remains Awake

  1. 1

    The supreme living being creates the material world; the material world does not create Him. He is the supreme eternal living being.

  2. 2

    When the material world is annihilated, the living entities remain unconscious, but the Supreme Being stays awake as the witness. He knows everything, even though the living entity does not know Him.

  3. 3

    Material waking life, sleep and unconsciousness at annihilation are described as stages of dreaming. In the spiritual world, however, everything is awake.

Key points from the purport
  • The difference between the Supreme Being and the ordinary living being is that when this material world is annihilated, all the living entities remain silent in oblivion, in a dreaming or unconscious condition, whereas the Supreme Being stays awake as the witness of everything.
  • At any stage in the material world, therefore, they are all dreaming.
  • In the spiritual world, however, everything is awake.

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

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. śrī-manuḥ uvācaSvāyambhuva Manu chanted
  2. yenaby whom (the Personality of Godhead)
  3. cetayateis brought into animation
  4. viśvamthe whole universe
  5. viśvamthe whole universe (the material world)
  6. cetayateanimates
  7. nanot
  8. yamHe whom
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 does the Lord's constant awareness teach me about the limits of my own awareness?

Practice

Before sleeping, briefly remember that the Supreme Lord remains awake as the witness even when you sleep.

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Always Remains AwakeThis 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 8.1.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories