Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 3.17.14
Sthāna· The universe in orderThe Universe Moves Under Nature’s Modes
“Ominous planets such as Mars and Saturn shone brighter and surpassed the auspicious ones such as Mercury, Jupiter and Venus as well as a number of lunar mansions. Taking seemingly retrograde courses, the planets came in conflict with one another.”
What the purport teaches
- The entire universe moves under the three modes of material nature. Living entities in goodness are called pious.
- Planets also are considered pious or impious. Saturn and Mars are described as impious.
- Brightly shining pious planets are an auspicious sign, whereas brightly shining inauspicious planets are not. Here the ominous planets surpassed the auspicious ones and seemingly came into conflict.
Try this today
Write one sentence summarizing the purport’s teaching about the three modes of material nature.
Ask yourself
How does this purport broaden my understanding of the influence of material nature?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.