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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 9 · Liberation · 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 9 · Chapter 24: Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
9.24.529.24.56

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.24.53-55

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The sun-godsince 9.24.34inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

प्रवरश्रुतमुख्यांश्च साक्षाद् धर्मो वसूनिव । वसुदेवस्तु देवक्यामष्ट पुत्रानजीजनत् ॥ ५३ ॥ कीर्तिमन्तं सुषेणं च भद्रसेनमुदारधी: । ऋजुं सम्मर्दनं भद्रं सङ्कर्षणमहीश्वरम् ॥ ५४ ॥ अष्टमस्तु तयोरासीत् स्वयमेव हरि: किल । सुभद्रा च महाभागा तव राजन् पितामही ॥ ५५ ॥

pravara-śruta-mukhyāṁś ca

sākṣād dharmo vasūn iva

vasudevas tu devakyām

aṣṭa putrān ajījanat

kīrtimantaṁ suṣeṇaṁ ca

bhadrasenam udāra-dhīḥ

ṛjuṁ sammardanaṁ bhadraṁ

saṅkarṣaṇam ahīśvaram

aṣṭamas tu tayor āsīt

svayam eva hariḥ kila

subhadrā ca mahābhāgā

tava rājan pitāmahī

Translation

The eight sons born of Sahadevā such as Pravara and Śruta, were exact incarnations of the eight Vasus in the heavenly planets. Vasudeva also begot eight highly qualified sons through the womb of Devakī. These included Kīrtimān, Suṣeṇa, Bhadrasena, Ṛju, Sammardana, Bhadra and Saṅkarṣaṇa, the controller and serpent incarnation. The eighth son was the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself — Kṛṣṇa. The highly fortunate Subhadrā, the one daughter, was your grandmother.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Is the Original Supreme Person

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa appeared as the eighth son of Devakī. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.

  2. 2

    The purport distinguishes Kṛṣṇa as the original Supreme Person, not an incarnation. He is the complete Godhead.

  3. 3

    Although there is no difference between the Lord and His incarnations, incarnations exhibit only a certain percentage of His potencies. Kṛṣṇa Himself possesses the complete potencies of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The fifty-fifth verse says, svayam eva hariḥ kila, indicating that Kṛṣṇa, the eighth son of Devakī, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Although there is no difference between the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari and His incarnation, Kṛṣṇa is the original Supreme Person, the complete Godhead.
  • Incarnations exhibit only a certain percentage of the potencies of Godhead; the complete Godhead is Kṛṣṇa Himself, who appeared as the eighth son of Devakī.

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

Historical movement → Anticipation. The narrative narrows toward its divine center.

Chapters 20–24 of Canto 9: Lineages leading to the appearance of Kṛṣṇa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 24: Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Vasudeva had many other sons by his other wives, and the eighth son to appear from the womb of Devakī was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who delivered the entire world from the burden of demons. This chapter ends by glorifying the Supreme Personality of Godhead Vāsudeva.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.24
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pravaraPravara (in some readings, Pauvara)
  2. śrutaŚruta
  3. mukhyānheaded by
  4. caand
  5. sākṣātdirectly
  6. dharmaḥreligion personified
  7. vasūn ivaexactly like the chief Vasus in the heavenly planets
  8. vasudevaḥŚrīla Vasudeva, the father of Kṛṣṇa
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

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 does knowing Kṛṣṇa as the complete Godhead deepen your understanding of Him?

Practice

Read the translation once more, pausing at the statement that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is the Original 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 9.24.53-55? Get an answer from the verses themselves.