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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
1.3.371.3.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.3.38

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

स वेद धातु: पदवीं परस्य

दुरन्तवीर्यस्य रथाङ्गपाणे: ।

योऽमायया सन्ततयानुवृत्त्या

भजेत तत्पादसरोजगन्धम् ॥ ३८ ॥

sa veda dhātuḥ padavīṁ parasya

duranta-vīryasya rathāṅga-pāṇeḥ

yo ’māyayā santatayānuvṛttyā

bhajeta tat-pāda-saroja-gandham

Translation

Only those who render unreserved, uninterrupted, favorable service unto the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who carries the wheel of the chariot in His hand, can know the creator of the universe in His full glory, power and transcendence.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Service Reveals Lord Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Only pure devotees can know Lord Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental name, form and activities. They serve Him without reservation, interruption or desire for personal profit.

  2. 2

    Everyone serves the Lord either directly or indirectly. Devotees serve Him favorably under the direction of His beloved agent.

  3. 3

    The Lord Himself guides pure devotees toward realization because they constantly engage in His loving service. Fruitive activities and mental speculation do not qualify one to enter the kingdom of God.

Key points from the purport
  • Only the pure devotees can know the transcendental name, form and activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa due to their being completely freed from the reactions of fruitive work and mental speculation.
  • Everyone within the creation of the Lord is rendering service to the Lord indirectly or directly.
  • Those who are rendering service indirectly, being forced by the illusory agent of the Lord, are rendering service unto Him unfavorably.

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. saḥHe alone
  2. vedacan know
  3. dhātuḥof the creator
  4. padavīmglories
  5. parasyaof the transcendence
  6. duranta-vīryasyaof the greatly powerful
  7. ratha-aṅga-pāṇeḥof Lord Kṛṣṇa, who bears in His hand the wheel of a chariot
  8. yaḥone who
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.3

    In this verse: “favorable”, “favorably”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.3

    In this verse: “kingdom”

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 personal reward can I stop seeking in my service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Do one small act of service to Lord Kṛṣṇa today without asking for any personal benefit.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLoving Service Reveals Lord KṛṣṇaThis 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 1.3.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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