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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
8.24.548.24.56

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.24.55

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.24.54inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

पुराणसंहितां दिव्यां साङ्ख्ययोगक्रियावतीम् ।

सत्यव्रतस्य राजर्षेरात्मगुह्यमशेषत: ॥ ५५ ॥

purāṇa-saṁhitāṁ divyāṁ

sāṅkhya-yoga-kriyāvatīm

satyavratasya rājarṣer

ātma-guhyam aśeṣataḥ

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead thus explained to King Satyavrata the spiritual science known as sāṅkhya-yoga, the science by which one distinguishes between matter and spirit [in other words, bhakti-yoga], along with the instructions contained in the Purāṇas [the old histories] and the saṁhitās. The Lord explained Himself in all these literatures.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Explains Spiritual Science

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead taught King Satyavrata sāṅkhya-yoga, the science of distinguishing matter from spirit. The translation also identifies this spiritual science as bhakti-yoga.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s teaching included instructions contained in the Purāṇas, the old histories, and the saṁhitās.

  3. 3

    The Lord explained Himself in all these literatures. Their teaching directs our attention toward understanding Him.

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 Personality of Godhead, being pleased with the King, informed him that within a week there would be an inundation throughout the universe and that the fish incarnation would protect the King, along with the ṛṣis, herbs, seeds and other living entities, in a boat, which would be attached to the fish’s horn. After saying this, the Lord disappeared.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. purāṇathe subject matter explained in the Purāṇas, the old histories, especially the Matsya Purāṇa
  2. saṁhitāmthe Vedic instructions contained in Brahma-saṁhitā and other saṁhitās
  3. divyāmall transcendental literatures
  4. sāṅkhyathe philosophical way of sāṅkhya-yoga
  5. yogathe science of self-realization or bhakti-yoga
  6. kriyāvatīmpractically applied in life
  7. satyavratasyaof King Satyavrata
  8. rāja-ṛṣeḥthe great king and saint
  9. ātma-guhyamall the mysteries of self-realization
  10. aśeṣataḥincluding all branches
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “bhakti-yoga”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “king”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understanding”

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

Am I studying spiritual knowledge to understand the Lord and deepen my devotion?

Practice

Read this translation slowly and note that the Lord explains Himself through these spiritual teachings.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Explains Spiritual ScienceThis 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 8.24.55? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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