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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 24: Matsya, the Lord’s Fish Incarnation
8.24.458.24.47

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.24.46

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Kingsince 8.24.46inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीराजोवाच

अनाद्यविद्योपहतात्मसंविद-

स्तन्मूलसंसारपरिश्रमातुरा: ।

यद‍ृच्छयोपसृता यमाप्नुयु-

र्विमुक्तिदो न: परमो गुरुर्भवान् ॥ ४६ ॥

śrī-rājovāca

anādy-avidyopahatātma-saṁvidas

tan-mūla-saṁsāra-pariśramāturāḥ

yadṛcchayopasṛtā yam āpnuyur

vimuktido naḥ paramo gurur bhavān

Translation

The King said: By the grace of the Lord, those who have lost their self-knowledge since time immemorial, and who because of this ignorance are involved in a material, conditional life full of miseries, obtain the chance to meet the Lord’s devotee. I accept that Supreme Personality of Godhead as the supreme spiritual master.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Is the Supreme Spiritual Master

  1. 1

    Loss of self-knowledge leaves the conditioned soul suffering in material life. By the Lord’s grace, one receives the chance to meet His devotee.

  2. 2

    The Lord knows the conditioned soul’s suffering and is always helping. He enlightens souls personally, through an incarnation, or through an authorized representative.

  3. 3

    A spiritual master who spreads Kṛṣṇa consciousness acts as the Lord’s confidential servant. Such a representative should not be neglected as an ordinary person.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Personality of Godhead is actually the supreme spiritual master.
  • It is therefore said, ācāryaṁ māṁ vijānīyāt: an ācārya who acts on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead should be understood to be as good as the Supreme Lord Himself.
  • Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura has advised that the spiritual master acting on the Supreme Lord’s behalf must be worshiped as being as good as the Supreme Lord, for he is the Lord’s most confidential servant in broadcasting the Lord’s message for the benefit of the conditioned souls involved in the material world.

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

Catastrophe → Trust and protection. Divine guardianship amid destruction closes the canto.

Chapter 24 of Canto 8: Matsya preserves life and knowledge. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 24: Matsya, the Lord’s Fish Incarnation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Thus the King understood that the fish was no one else but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and he requested the Lord to describe His incarnation as a fish.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-rājā uvācathe King offered prayers as follows
  2. anādifrom time immemorial
  3. avidyāby ignorance
  4. upahatahas been lost
  5. ātma-saṁvidaḥknowledge about the self
  6. tatthat is
  7. mūlathe root
  8. saṁsāramaterial bondage
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “grace”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “devotee”

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 recognize spiritual guidance from the Lord’s devotee as an expression of His mercy?

Practice

Reread one sentence of this purport and offer thanks to the Lord for making spiritual guidance available.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Is the Supreme Spiritual MasterThis 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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