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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
8.24.508.24.52

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.24.51

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

जनो जनस्यादिशतेऽसतीं गतिं

यया प्रपद्येत दुरत्ययं तम: ।

त्वं त्वव्ययं ज्ञानममोघमञ्जसा

प्रपद्यते येन जनो निजं पदम् ॥ ५१ ॥

jano janasyādiśate ’satīṁ gatiṁ

yayā prapadyeta duratyayaṁ tamaḥ

tvaṁ tv avyayaṁ jñānam amogham añjasā

prapadyate yena jano nijaṁ padam

Translation

A materialistic so-called guru instructs his materialistic disciples about economic development and sense gratification, and because of such instructions the foolish disciples continue in the materialistic existence of ignorance. But Your Lordship gives knowledge that is eternal, and the intelligent person receiving such knowledge is quickly situated in his original constitutional position.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Eternal Knowledge Leads Back to Godhead

  1. 1

    Materialistic so-called gurus teach for material profit and encourage sense gratification. Such instructions keep disciples in ignorance and material suffering.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead gives eternal knowledge. By accepting His instructions, one can attain liberation and regain one’s original spiritual position.

  3. 3

    As part and parcel of the Lord, the living being has a birthright to life in the spiritual world, where there is no anxiety. The devotee’s ultimate goal is to return to the Lord and enjoy spiritual life with Him.

Key points from the purport
  • But if one is intelligent enough to take instructions from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as enunciated in Bhagavad-gītā or the Sāṅkhya philosophy of Kapiladeva, one can very soon attain liberation and be situated in his original position of spiritual life.
  • Therefore, one should follow the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • The Lord lives in the spiritual world in His original personality, and a devotee who follows the instructions of the Lord approaches Him (mām eti).

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. janaḥa person who is not a bona fide guru (an ordinary person)
  2. janasyaof an ordinary person who does not know the goal of life
  3. ādiśateinstructs
  4. asatīmimpermanent, material
  5. gatimthe goal of life
  6. yayāby such knowledge
  7. prapadyetahe surrenders
  8. duratyayaminsurmountable
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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: “sense gratification”, “materialistic”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee’s”

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

Is the guidance I seek directed toward material enjoyment or toward my original spiritual life?

Practice

Spend five minutes reading the Lord’s instructions in Bhagavad-gītā with the intention of following them.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 8.24's connections

Live this todayEternal Knowledge Leads Back to GodheadThis 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 8.24.51? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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