FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.3.29

जन्म गुह्यं भगवतो य एतत्प्रयतो नर: । सायं प्रातर्गृणन् भक्त्या दु:खग्रामाद्विमुच्यते ॥ २९ ॥
janma guhyaṁ bhagavato
[janma guhyam bhagavato]
ya etat prayato naraḥ
[ya etat prayato narah]
sāyaṁ prātar gṛṇan bhaktyā
[saayam praatar grinan bhaktyaa]
duḥkha-grāmād vimucyate
[duhkha-graamaad vimuchyate]
janma — birth guhyam — mysterious bhagavataḥ — of the Lord yaḥ — one etat — all these prayataḥ — carefully naraḥ — man sāyam — evening prātaḥ — morning gṛṇan — recites bhaktyā — with devotion duḥkha-grāmāt — from all miseries vimucyate — gets relief from.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
janma guhyaṁ bhagavato
janma
birth
guhyam
mysterious
bhagavataḥ
of the Lord
ya etat prayato naraḥ
yaḥ
one
etat
all these
prayataḥ
carefully
naraḥ
man
sāyaṁ prātar gṛṇan bhaktyā
sāyam
evening
prātaḥ
morning
gṛṇan
recites
bhaktyā
with devotion
duḥkha-grāmād vimucyate
duḥkha-grāmāt
from all miseries
vimucyate
gets relief from.
Whoever carefully recites the mysterious appearances of the Lord, with devotion in the morning and in the evening, gets relief from all miseries of life.

In the Bhagavad-gītā the Personality of Godhead has declared that anyone who knows the principles of the transcendental birth and activities of the Lord will go back to Godhead after being relieved from this material tabernacle. So simply knowing factually the mysterious way of the Lord’s incarnation in this material world can liberate one from material bondage. Therefore the birth and activities of the Lord, as manifested by Him for the welfare of the people in general, are not ordinary. They are mysterious, and only by those who carefully try to go deep into the matter by spiritual devotion is the mystery discovered. Thus one gets liberation from material bondage. It is advised therefore that one who simply recites this chapter of Bhāgavatam, describing the appearance of the Lord in different incarnations, in sincerity and devotion, can have insight into the birth and activities of the Lord. The very word vimukti, or liberation, indicates that the Lord’s birth and activities are all transcendental; otherwise simply by reciting them one could not attain liberation. They are therefore mysterious, and those who do not follow the prescribed regulations of devotional service are not entitled to enter into the mysteries of His births and activities.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The pure person who chants with devotion the glories of the Lord’s appearance, which is mysterious, becomes free from all sorrows.
Commentary

This describes the results of glorifying the avatāras. Guhyam means very concealed or mysterious. Gṛṇan means “glorifying.”

Carefully reciting the Lord's appearances morning and evening relieves life's miseries. The simple practice of remembering — twice a day, devotedly — is offered as a real medicine, not a metaphor.
Reflection Questions
  • What would a sustainable morning-and-evening remembrance look like for my actual life?
  • Which 'misery' might lighten if I treated this as prescribed practice rather than optional ritual?
📝 My note

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