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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
1.3.141.3.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.3.15

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.3.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

रूपं स जगृहे मात्स्यं चाक्षुषोदधिसम्प्लवे ।

नाव्यारोप्य महीमय्यामपाद्वैवस्वतं मनुम् ॥ १५ ॥

rūpaṁ sa jagṛhe mātsyaṁ

cākṣuṣodadhi-samplave

nāvy āropya mahī-mayyām

apād vaivasvataṁ manum

Translation

When there was a complete inundation after the period of the Cākṣuṣa Manu and the whole world was deep within water, the Lord accepted the form of a fish and protected Vaivasvata Manu, keeping him up on a boat.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Appears to Favor His Devotee

  1. 1

    After the period of Cākṣuṣa Manu, the world was submerged in water. The Lord took the form of a fish and protected Vaivasvata Manu on a boat.

  2. 2

    The purport presents differing explanations about whether devastation follows every Manu. Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī cites authoritative scriptures supporting this, and Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī supports his conclusion.

  3. 3

    Apart from that discussion, the Lord appeared in this particular period to show special favor to Satyavrata, His devotee.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīpāda Śrīdhara Svāmī, the original commentator on the Bhāgavatam, there is not always a devastation after the change of every Manu.
  • And yet this inundation after the period of Cākṣuṣa Manu took place in order to show some wonders to Satyavrata.
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī has also supported Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, and he (Śrī Cakravartī) has also quoted from Bhāgavatāmṛta about this inundation after each Manu.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rūpamform
  2. saḥHe
  3. jagṛheaccepted
  4. mātsyamof a fish
  5. cākṣuṣaCākṣuṣa
  6. udadhiwater
  7. samplaveinundation
  8. nāvion the boat
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 1.3

    In this verse: “protected”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.3

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.3

    In this verse: “favor”

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 stands out to you about the Lord's personal care for His devotee?

Practice

Spend a minute recalling the Lord's protection described here and offer a prayer of gratitude.

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 todayThe Lord Appears to Favor His DevoteeThis 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 1.3.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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