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

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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
1.3.81.3.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.3.9

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

तुर्ये धर्मकलासर्गे नरनारायणावृषी ।

भूत्वात्मोपशमोपेतमकरोद्दुश्चरं तप: ॥ ९ ॥

turye dharma-kalā-sarge

nara-nārāyaṇāv ṛṣī

bhūtvātmopaśamopetam

akarot duścaraṁ tapaḥ

Translation

In the fourth incarnation, the Lord became Nara and Nārāyaṇa, the twin sons of the wife of King Dharma. Thus He undertook severe and exemplary penances to control the senses.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Teaches Sense Control

  1. 1

    The Lord appeared as Nara and Nārāyaṇa and undertook severe, exemplary penances to control the senses.

  2. 2

    Tapasya means voluntarily accepting penance for spiritual realization. The Lord Himself practiced it to teach human beings their duty.

  3. 3

    The Lord is kind to forgetful souls. He comes with instructions and sends His representatives to call conditioned souls back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • As King Ṛṣabha advised His sons, tapasya, or voluntary acceptance of penance for realization of the Transcendence, is the only duty of the human being; it was so done by the Lord Himself in an exemplary manner to teach us.
  • The Lord is very kind to the forgetful souls.
  • He therefore comes Himself and leaves behind necessary instructions and also sends His good sons as representatives to call all the conditioned souls back to Godhead.

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. turyein the fourth of the line
  2. dharma-kalāwife of Dharmarāja
  3. sargebeing born of
  4. nara-nārāyaṇaunamed Nara and Nārāyaṇa
  5. ṛṣīsages
  6. bhūtvābecoming
  7. ātma-upaśamacontrolling the senses
  8. upetamfor achievement of
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: “dharma”, “duty”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.3

    In this verse: “king”

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

How does the Lord's own example change your view of voluntary restraint?

Practice

Forgo one small, unnecessary sense pleasure today and use that time to reflect on the Lord's instructions.

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.

Live this todayThe Lord Teaches Sense ControlThis 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 1.3.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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