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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 8.16.51-52

Who is speaking and story frame

पूजां च महतीं कुर्याद् वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जित: ।

चरुं निरूप्य पयसि शिपिविष्टाय विष्णवे ॥ ५१ ॥

सूक्तेन तेन पुरुषं यजेत सुसमाहित: ।

नैवेद्यं चातिगुणवद् दद्यात्पुरुषतुष्टिदम् ॥ ५२ ॥

pūjāṁ ca mahatīṁ kuryād

vitta-śāṭhya-vivarjitaḥ

caruṁ nirūpya payasi

śipiviṣṭāya viṣṇave

sūktena tena puruṣaṁ

yajeta susamāhitaḥ

naivedyaṁ cātiguṇavad

dadyāt puruṣa-tuṣṭidam

Translation

Giving up the miserly habit of not spending money, one should arrange for the gorgeous worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, who is situated in the heart of every living entity. With great attention, one must prepare an oblation of grains boiled in ghee and milk and must chant the Puruṣa-sūkta mantra. The offerings of food should be of varieties of tastes. In this way, one should worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Worship the Supreme Lord With Generosity

  1. 1

    One should give up the miserly habit of withholding money and arrange gorgeous worship of Viṣṇu. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, situated in the heart of every living entity.

  2. 2

    With great attention, one should prepare an oblation of grains boiled in ghee and milk and chant the Puruṣa-sūkta mantra.

  3. 3

    Food offerings should include varieties of tastes. In this way, one should worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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:

But when he saw that Aditi was not satisfied even after he had given these instructions, he advised her to worship Vāsudeva, Janārdana. He assured her that only Lord Vāsudeva could satisfy her and fulfill all her desires.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pūjāmworship
  2. caalso
  3. mahatīmvery gorgeous
  4. kuryātshould do
  5. vitta-śāṭhyamiserly mentality (not spending sufficient money)
  6. vivarjitaḥgiving up
  7. carumgrains offered in the yajña
  8. nirūpyaseeing properly
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 8.16

    In this verse: “chant”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 8.16

    In this verse: “give up”

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 can I bring greater generosity and attention to my worship of the Lord?

Practice

Set aside a small amount of money today for a food offering in the worship of Lord Viṣṇu.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorship the Supreme Lord With GenerosityThis 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 8.16.51-52? Get an answer from the verses themselves.