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

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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 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 10 · Chapter 3: The Birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa
10.3.15-1710.3.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 10.3.18

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vasudevasince 10.3.13inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

य आत्मनो द‍ृश्यगुणेषु सन्निति

व्यवस्यते स्वव्यतिरेकतोऽबुध: ।

विनानुवादं न च तन्मनीषितं

सम्यग् यतस्त्यक्तमुपाददत् पुमान् ॥ १८ ॥

ya ātmano dṛśya-guṇeṣu sann iti

vyavasyate sva-vyatirekato ’budhaḥ

vinānuvādaṁ na ca tan manīṣitaṁ

samyag yatas tyaktam upādadat pumān

Translation

One who considers his visible body, which is a product of the three modes of nature, to be independent of the soul is unaware of the basis of existence, and therefore he is a rascal. Those who are learned have rejected this conclusion because one can understand through full discussion that with no basis in soul, the visible body and senses would be insubstantial. Nonetheless, although his conclusion has been rejected, a foolish person considers it a reality.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Body and Soul Are the Lord’s Energies

  1. 1

    The body cannot exist as a living body without the spirit soul. The purport rejects the idea that life is merely a combination of chemicals.

  2. 2

    Both body and soul are energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Neither is false, because both come from the supreme reality.

  3. 3

    The body is temporary and less important than the soul, but it should not be rejected as false or accepted as everything. Being fully situated in Kṛṣṇa consciousness avoids both mistakes.

Key points from the purport
  • The body, therefore, has a relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, just as the soul does.
  • Therefore, both the body and the soul are Brahman, since matter and spirit emanate from Brahman.
  • Although the body is not as important as the soul, we cannot say that it is false.

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

The purport of SB 10.3.18 quotesBG 7.4

The substance is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and both the body and the soul are energies of the Supreme Godhead, as described by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (7.4-5):

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

Terror → Wonder and relief. The threat of destruction yields to divine appearance.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 10: Threat from Kaṁsa and Kṛṣṇa's birth. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: The Birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The Lord, the cause of all causes, is beyond material existence, although He is the creator of this material world. When He enters this world as Paramātmā, He is all-pervading ( aṇḍāntara-stha-paramāṇu-cayāntara-stham), yet He is transcendentally situated.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥanyone who
  2. ātmanaḥof his own real identity, the soul
  3. dṛśya-guṇeṣuamong the visible objects, beginning with the body
  4. sanbeing situated in that position
  5. itithus
  6. vyavasyatecontinues to act
  7. sva-vyatirekataḥas if the body were independent of the soul
  8. abudhaḥa rascal
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 10.3

    In this verse: “understand”, “spirit soul”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I value my body as the Lord’s energy without making it the center of my life?

Practice

Use your voice today to read these teachings aloud as a small act of devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBody and Soul Are the Lord’s EnergiesThis 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 10.3.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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