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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
8.24.498.24.51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.24.50

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

अचक्षुरन्धस्य यथाग्रणी: कृत-

स्तथा जनस्याविदुषोऽबुधो गुरु: ।

त्वमर्कद‍ृक् सर्वद‍ृशां समीक्षणो

वृतो गुरुर्न: स्वगतिं बुभुत्सताम् ॥ ५० ॥

acakṣur andhasya yathāgraṇīḥ kṛtas

tathā janasyāviduṣo ’budho guruḥ

tvam arka-dṛk sarva-dṛśāṁ samīkṣaṇo

vṛto gurur naḥ sva-gatiṁ bubhutsatām

Translation

As a blind man, being unable to see, accepts another blind man as his leader, people who do not know the goal of life accept someone as a guru who is a rascal and a fool. But we are interested in self-realization. Therefore we accept You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as our spiritual master, for You are able to see in all directions and are omniscient like the sun.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Choose Guidance That Leads to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Those who do not know life’s goal may accept a guru because of clever words or displays of magic. This is compared to a blind person following another blind person.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the source of unlimited gold mines. Producing a little gold is therefore no sound reason to accept someone as guru.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Lord or His representative can be guru. A genuine guru follows Kṛṣṇa’s instructions and teaches surrender to Him for freedom from material bondage.

Key points from the purport
  • The conditioned soul, being wrapped in ignorance and therefore not knowing the goal of life, accepts a guru who can juggle words and make some display of magic that is wonderful to a fool.
  • Why should one not accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, from whom unlimited numbers of gold mines come into being?
  • He knew the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore he accepted the Lord as his guru.

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:

Although the King did not know that the small fish was the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, as a king he gave shelter to the fish and kept Him in a water jug. The fish, being the Supreme Personality of Godhead, wanted to show His potency to King Satyavrata, and thus He immediately expanded His body in such a way that He could no longer be kept in the jug of water.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.24
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. acakṣuḥone who does not have his power of sight
  2. andhasyafor such a blind person
  3. yathāas
  4. agraṇīḥthe leader, who goes first
  5. kṛtaḥaccepted
  6. tathāsimilarly
  7. janasyasuch a person
  8. aviduṣaḥwho has no knowledge of the goal of life
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “surrender”

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 judge spiritual guidance by impressive displays or by whether it teaches surrender to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Write down this criterion for spiritual guidance: Does it follow Kṛṣṇa’s instructions and lead me to surrender to Him?

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChoose Guidance That Leads to KṛṣṇaThis 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 8.24.50? Get an answer from the verses themselves.