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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 7: Lord Śiva Saves the Universe by Drinking Poison
8.7.238.7.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.24

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The prajāpatissince 8.7.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

त्वं ब्रह्म परमं गुह्यं सदसद्भ‍ावभावनम् ।

नानाशक्तिभिराभातस्त्वमात्मा जगदीश्वर: ॥ २४ ॥

tvaṁ brahma paramaṁ guhyaṁ

sad-asad-bhāva-bhāvanam

nānā-śaktibhir ābhātas

tvam ātmā jagad-īśvaraḥ

Translation

You are the cause of all causes, the self-effulgent, inconceivable, impersonal Brahman, which is originally Parabrahman. You manifest various potencies in this cosmic manifestation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Brahman’s Effulgence Comes From the Supreme Person

  1. 1

    The prayer addresses the cause of all causes, who manifests various potencies in the cosmic manifestation.

  2. 2

    Impersonal Brahman consists of the effulgent rays of Parabrahman. Parabrahman is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    When Lord Śiva is worshiped as Parabrahman, that worship is meant for Lord Viṣṇu.

Key points from the purport
  • This prayer is offered to the impersonal Brahman, which consists of the effulgent rays of Parabrahman.
  • Parabrahman is the Supreme Personality of Godhead (paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān).
  • When Lord Śiva is worshiped as Parabrahman, the worship is meant for Lord Viṣṇu.

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

Danger and ambition → Divine rescue and surprise. Cooperation, rivalry and revelation alternate rapidly.

Chapters 5–12 of Canto 8: Churning the ocean, poison and nectar. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 7: Lord Śiva Saves the Universe by Drinking Poison

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

As a result of the churning, a huge amount of poison was produced. The prajāpatis, seeing no one else to save them, approached Lord Śiva and offered him prayers full of truth.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.7
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tvamYour Lordship
  2. brahmaimpersonal Brahman
  3. paramamsupreme
  4. guhyamconfidential
  5. sat-asat-bhāva-bhāvanamthe cause of varieties of creation, its cause and effect
  6. nānā-śaktibhiḥwith varieties of potencies
  7. ābhātaḥmanifest
  8. tvamyou are
  9. ātmāthe Supersoul
  10. jagat-īśvaraḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.7

    In this verse: “worshiped”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does knowing the personal source of Brahman clarify your understanding of the Supreme?

Practice

Pause over the words “Supreme Personality of Godhead,” remembering that impersonal Brahman is His effulgence.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBrahman’s Effulgence Comes From the Supreme PersonThis 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 8.7.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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