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

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 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 1 · Chapter 3: Kṛṣṇa Is the Source of All Incarnations
1.3.101.3.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.3.11

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.3.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

षष्ठमत्रेरपत्यत्वं वृत: प्राप्तोऽनसूयया ।

आन्वीक्षिकीमलर्काय प्रह्लादादिभ्य ऊचिवान् ॥ ११ ॥

ṣaṣṭham atrer apatyatvaṁ

vṛtaḥ prāpto ’nasūyayā

ānvīkṣikīm alarkāya

prahlādādibhya ūcivān

Translation

The sixth incarnation of the puruṣa was the son of the sage Atri. He was born from the womb of Anasūyā, who prayed for an incarnation. He spoke on the subject of transcendence to Alarka, Prahlāda and others [Yadu, Haihaya, etc.].

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Dattātreya Teaches About the Spirit Soul

  1. 1

    The Lord appeared as Dattātreya, the son of Ṛṣi Atri and Anasūyā. He is described as the sixth incarnation of the puruṣa.

  2. 2

    Anasūyā prayed to Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Śiva that they combine together to become her son. The lords accepted her prayer.

  3. 3

    As Dattātreya, the Lord explained the philosophy of the spirit soul. He especially instructed Alarka, Prahlāda, Yadu and Haihaya.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord incarnated Himself as Dattātreya, the son of Ṛṣi Atri and Anasūyā.
  • The history of the birth of Dattātreya as an incarnation of the Lord is mentioned in the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa in connection with the story of the devoted wife.
  • This was accepted by the lords, and as Dattātreya the Lord expounded the philosophy of the spirit soul and especially instructed Alarka, Prahlāda, Yadu, Haihaya, etc.

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

Concern → Purpose. A spiritually urgent question emerges for the age of Kali.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 1: The sages ask the ultimate questions. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: Kṛṣṇa Is the Source of All Incarnations

Sūta describes the Lord’s incarnations and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as His literary incarnation.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ṣaṣṭhamthe sixth one
  2. atreḥof Atri
  3. apatyatvamsonship
  4. vṛtaḥbeing prayed for
  5. prāptaḥobtained
  6. anasūyayāby Anasūyā
  7. ānvīkṣikīmon the subject of transcendence
  8. alarkāyaunto Alarka
  9. prahlāda-ādibhyaḥunto Prahlāda and others
  10. ūcivānspoke
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.3

    In this verse: “philosophy”, “spirit soul”

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

What place does learning about the spirit soul have in your daily priorities?

Practice

Reread the passage about Dattātreya's teaching and write down one question you have about the spirit soul.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

7

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 1.3's connections

Live this todayDattātreya Teaches About the Spirit SoulThis 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 1.3.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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