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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
1.3.421.3.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.3.43

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

कृष्णे स्वधामोपगते धर्मज्ञानादिभि: सह ।

कलौ नष्टद‍ृशामेष पुराणार्कोऽधुनोदित: ॥ ४३ ॥

kṛṣṇe sva-dhāmopagate

dharma-jñānādibhiḥ saha

kalau naṣṭa-dṛśām eṣa

purāṇārko ’dhunoditaḥ

Translation

This Bhāgavata Purāṇa is as brilliant as the sun, and it has arisen just after the departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa to His own abode, accompanied by religion, knowledge, etc. Persons who have lost their vision due to the dense darkness of ignorance in the Age of Kali shall get light from this Purāṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Bhāgavatam Brings Light in the Age of Kali

  1. 1

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Personality of Godhead, has an eternal abode manifested by His internal energy. His form, name and abode are not creations of matter.

  2. 2

    Real religion means knowing God, our relationship with Him, our duties toward Him and our destination after death. In Kali-yuga, absorption in sense enjoyment obscures this aim of life.

  3. 3

    Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam shines like the sun after Lord Kṛṣṇa’s departure and is His direct representation. Bhagavad-gītā is its preliminary study, and together these books give spiritual light to people in this age.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa has His eternal dhāma, or abode, where He eternally enjoys Himself with His eternal associates and paraphernalia.
  • And Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the summum bonum of life, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa personified.
  • We must therefore accept Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as the direct representation of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

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· 2

Quoted in the purport ofSB 2.10.7

purāṇārko ’dhunoditaḥ. Thus by general conclusion Lord Kṛṣṇa is the ultimate source of all energies, and the word kṛṣṇa means that.

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 24.320

The answer to this important question is given in the next verse, also from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.3.43).

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. kṛṣṇein Kṛṣṇa’s
  2. sva-dhāmaown abode
  3. upagatehaving returned
  4. dharmareligion
  5. jñānaknowledge
  6. ādibhiḥcombined together
  7. sahaalong with
  8. kalauin the Kali-yuga
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.3

    In this verse: “religion”, “duties”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 1.3

    In this verse: “death”

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

Is my daily pursuit of knowledge helping me understand my relationship and duties toward Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Read this translation again and write one sentence about how its teaching can guide your duties toward Kṛṣṇa today.

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 · quoted in 5 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 5 other lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayBhāgavatam Brings Light in the Age of KaliThis 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 1.3.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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