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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
1.3.331.3.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.3.34

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.3.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

यद्येषोपरता देवी माया वैशारदी मति: ।

सम्पन्न एवेति विदुर्महिम्नि स्वे महीयते ॥ ३४ ॥

yady eṣoparatā devī

māyā vaiśāradī matiḥ

sampanna eveti vidur

mahimni sve mahīyate

Translation

If the illusory energy subsides and the living entity becomes fully enriched with knowledge by the grace of the Lord, then he becomes at once enlightened with self-realization and thus becomes situated in his own glory.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Grace Removes Illusion

  1. 1

    The Lord’s forms, names, pastimes, attributes, associates and energies are identical with Him. Being omnipotent, He can act through any of His energies.

  2. 2

    By the Lord’s will, the external energy that bewilders the living being can become internal potency that helps the purified soul progress. The purport compares this to electrical energy used for either heating or cooling.

  3. 3

    In response to repentance and penance, illusion subsides by the Lord’s grace. The living being becomes enlightened with self-realization and situated in the proper position for eternal spiritual life.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore by His grace the external energy, which is employed in illusioning those living beings who want to have it, subsides by the will of the Lord in terms of repentance and penance for the conditioned soul.
  • Similarly, the external energy, which now bewilders the living being into continuation of birth and death, is turned into internal potency by the will of the Lord to lead the living being to eternal life.
  • When a living being is thus graced by the Lord, he is placed in his proper constitutional position to enjoy eternal spiritual life.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.11.3

Ultimately, however, the Personality of Godhead can transform His potencies according to His own desire, as explained by Śrīla Prabhupāda in his commentary on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.3.34), “Because the Lord is the absolute Transcendence, all of His forms, names, pastimes, attributes, associates and energies are identical with Him.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. yadiif, however
  2. eṣāthey
  3. uparatāsubsided
  4. devī māyāillusory energy
  5. vaiśāradīfull of knowledge
  6. matiḥenlightenment
  7. sampannaḥenriched with
  8. evacertainly
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.3

    In this verse: “grace”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 1.3

    In this verse: “purified”

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 do I sincerely wish to repent of as I seek the Lord’s grace?

Practice

Take a quiet minute to express sincere repentance to the Lord and ask for His help in progressing toward self-realization.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Grace Removes IllusionThis 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 1.3.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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