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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
8.24.558.24.57

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.24.56

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

अश्रौषीद‍ृषिभि: साकमात्मतत्त्वमसंशयम् ।

नाव्यासीनो भगवता प्रोक्तं ब्रह्म सनातनम् ॥ ५६ ॥

aśrauṣīd ṛṣibhiḥ sākam

ātma-tattvam asaṁśayam

nāvy āsīno bhagavatā

proktaṁ brahma sanātanam

Translation

While sitting in the boat, King Satyavrata, accompanied by the great saintly persons, listened to the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in regard to self-realization. These instructions were all from the eternal Vedic literature [brahma]. Thus the King and sages had no doubt about the Absolute Truth.

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.

Hear the Lord’s Instructions Attentively

  1. 1

    King Satyavrata sat in the boat with great saintly persons and listened to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s instructions concerned self-realization and came from the eternal Vedic literature.

  3. 3

    Through hearing these instructions, the King and sages had no doubt about the Absolute Truth.

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. aśrauṣīthe heard
  2. ṛṣibhiḥthe great saintly persons
  3. sākamwith
  4. ātma-tattvamthe science of self-realization
  5. asaṁśayamwithout any doubt (because it was spoken by the Supreme Lord)
  6. nāvi āsīnaḥsitting in the boat
  7. bhagavatāby the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. proktamexplained
  9. brahmaall transcendental literatures
  10. sanātanameternally existing
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “hearing”

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 attentively do I listen when receiving teachings about self-realization?

Practice

Set aside two quiet minutes to read this translation aloud without distractions.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear the Lord’s Instructions AttentivelyThis 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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