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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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 24: Matsya, the Lord’s Fish Incarnation
8.24.468.24.48

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.24.47

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Kingsince 8.24.46inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

जनोऽबुधोऽयं निजकर्मबन्धन:

सुखेच्छया कर्म समीहतेऽसुखम् ।

यत्सेवया तां विधुनोत्यसन्मतिं

ग्रन्थिं स भिन्द्याद् धृदयं स नो गुरु: ॥ ४७ ॥

jano ’budho ’yaṁ nija-karma-bandhanaḥ

sukhecchayā karma samīhate ’sukham

yat-sevayā tāṁ vidhunoty asan-matiṁ

granthiṁ sa bhindyād dhṛdayaṁ sa no guruḥ

Translation

In hopes of becoming happy in this material world, the foolish conditioned soul performs fruitive activities that result only in suffering. But by rendering service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one becomes free from such false desires for happiness. May my supreme spiritual master cut the knot of false desires from the core of my heart.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Service Cuts the Knot of False Desires

  1. 1

    Seeking material happiness, the conditioned soul performs fruitive activities that actually bring distress.

  2. 2

    In ignorance, one keeps making plans based on a false hope for happiness. Service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead frees one from these false desires.

  3. 3

    Mahārāja Satyavrata prays that the Lord sever this hard knot in his heart and become his supreme spiritual master.

Key points from the purport
  • For material happiness, the conditioned soul involves himself in fruitive activities, which actually put him into material distress.
  • Because of a false hope for happiness, the conditioned soul becomes involved in various plans for material activity.
  • Here Mahārāja Satyavrata prays that the Lord sever this hard knot of false happiness and thus become his supreme spiritual master.

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:

The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, and thus he taught Mahārāja Satyavrata and the saintly persons about Vedic knowledge from the core of the heart. King Satyavrata took his next birth as Vaivasvata Manu, who is mentioned in Bhagavad-gītā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. janaḥthe conditioned soul subjected to birth and death
  2. abudhaḥmost foolish because of accepting the body as the self
  3. ayamhe
  4. nija-karma-bandhanaḥaccepting different bodily forms as a result of his sinful activities
  5. sukha-icchayādesiring to be happy within this material world
  6. karmafruitive activities
  7. samīhateplans
  8. asukhambut it is for distress only
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “suffering”, “distress”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “free from”

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

Which desire keeps me making plans for happiness without bringing lasting satisfaction?

Practice

Name one such desire in a prayer and ask the Lord to help you turn toward His service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayService Cuts the Knot of False DesiresThis 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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