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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
8.24.528.24.54

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.24.53

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

त्वं त्वामहं देववरं वरेण्यं

प्रपद्य ईशं प्रतिबोधनाय ।

छिन्ध्यर्थदीपैर्भगवन् वचोभि-

र्ग्रन्थीन् हृदय्यान् विवृणु स्वमोक: ॥ ५३ ॥

tvaṁ tvām ahaṁ deva-varaṁ vareṇyaṁ

prapadya īśaṁ pratibodhanāya

chindhy artha-dīpair bhagavan vacobhir

granthīn hṛdayyān vivṛṇu svam okaḥ

Translation

O Supreme Lord, for self-realization I surrender unto You, who are worshiped by the demigods as the supreme controller of everything. By Your instructions, exposing life’s purpose, kindly cut the knot from the core of my heart and let me know the destination of my life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Accept the Lord as Your Supreme Teacher

  1. 1

    King Satyavrata surrenders to the Supreme Lord for self-realization. He asks the Lord’s instructions to cut the knots in his heart and reveal life’s destination.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead gives full directions in Bhagavad-gītā about living in this world and returning home, back to Godhead.

  3. 3

    To understand Bhagavad-gītā, one should learn from a guru in the paramparā system, approaching with submission, questions and service. Following Arjuna, one should accept Kṛṣṇa’s supremacy.

Key points from the purport
  • Rather, one should directly see the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the guru or instructor.
  • In Bhagavad-gītā (4.34) the Supreme Personality of Godhead recommends:
  • One should surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead (daśāvatāra) and learn from Him about the spiritual world and the goal of life.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 8.24.53 quotesBG 4.34

In Bhagavad-gītā (4.34) the Supreme Personality of Godhead recommends: “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. tvamhow exalted You are
  2. tvāmunto You
  3. ahammyself
  4. deva-varamworshiped by the demigods
  5. vareṇyamthe greatest of all
  6. prapadyefully surrendering
  7. īśamunto the supreme controller
  8. pratibodhanāyafor understanding the real purpose of life
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

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

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

    In this verse: “surrender”, “surrenders”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiped”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “kindly”

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 approach spiritual instruction with greater sincerity and willingness to serve?

Practice

Read one instruction from Bhagavad-gītā and write down one sincere question about applying it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAccept the Lord as Your Supreme TeacherThis 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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