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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 16: Executing the Payo-vrata Process of Worship
8.16.238.16.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.16.24

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Kaśyapa Munisince 8.16.24inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीकश्यप उवाच

एतन्मे भगवान्पृष्ट: प्रजाकामस्य पद्मज: ।

यदाह ते प्रवक्ष्यामि व्रतं केशवतोषणम् ॥ २४ ॥

śrī-kaśyapa uvāca

etan me bhagavān pṛṣṭaḥ

prajā-kāmasya padmajaḥ

yad āha te pravakṣyāmi

vrataṁ keśava-toṣaṇam

Translation

Śrī Kaśyapa Muni said: When I desired offspring, I placed inquiries before Lord Brahmā, who is born from a lotus flower. Now I shall explain to you the same process Lord Brahmā instructed me, by which Keśava, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is satisfied.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Receive Devotional Service Through Disciplic Succession

  1. 1

    Kaśyapa Muni taught Aditi the same process he had received from Lord Brahmā for satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    A genuine guru does not manufacture a new process. He passes on the authorized process received from his own guru; this is the paramparā system.

  3. 3

    Mantras and devotional practices have special power when received from an authorized person. Manufactured mantras meant for material advancement cannot be successful.

Key points from the purport
  • Kaśyapa Muni wanted to instruct Aditi in the same process recommended to him by Brahmā for satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • The disciple receives from the guru an authorized process received by the guru from his guru.
  • This is the bona fide Vedic system of receiving the process of devotional service, by which the Supreme Personality of Godhead is pleased.

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

Loss and hope → Revelation. A shift in fortune sets up a spiritual test.

Chapters 15–18 of Canto 8: Bali, Aditi and Vāmana's appearance. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 16: Executing the Payo-vrata Process of Worship

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When Aditi then expressed her desire to worship Lord Vāsudeva, Prajāpati Kaśyapa told her about a process of worship known as payo-vrata, which is executed in twelve days. Lord Brahmā had instructed him how to satisfy Lord Kṛṣṇa by this process, and thus he advised his wife to observe this vow and its regulative principles.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-kaśyapaḥ uvācaKaśyapa Muni said
  2. etatthis
  3. meby me
  4. bhagavānthe most powerful
  5. pṛṣṭaḥwhen he was requested
  6. prajā-kāmasyadesiring offspring
  7. padma-jaḥLord Brahmā, who was born of a lotus flower
  8. yatwhatever
3

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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.16

    In this verse: “inquiries”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.16

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.16

    In this verse: “devotional”

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

Do I value an authorized devotional process more than a newly invented promise of material gain?

Practice

Review the source of one devotional instruction you follow and note how it has been received through disciplic succession.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReceive Devotional Service Through Disciplic SuccessionThis 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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