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

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Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 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 3 · Chapter 1: Questions by Vidura
3.1.153.1.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.1.16

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vidurasince 3.1.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स्वयं धनुर्द्वारि निधाय मायां

र्भ्रातु: पुरो मर्मसु ताडितोऽपि ।

स इत्थमत्युल्बणकर्णबाणै-

र्गतव्यथोऽयादुरु मानयान: ॥ १६ ॥

svayaṁ dhanur dvāri nidhāya māyāṁ

bhrātuḥ puro marmasu tāḍito ’pi

sa ittham atyulbaṇa-karṇa-bāṇair

gata-vyatho ’yād uru mānayānaḥ

Translation

Thus being pierced by arrows through his ears and afflicted to the core of his heart, Vidura placed his bow on the door and quit his brother’s palace. He was not sorry, for he considered the acts of the external energy to be supreme.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Turn Adversity Toward Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The conditioned soul acts under the Lord’s external energy but falsely thinks himself independent. Material nature itself remains fully under the Supreme Lord’s control.

  2. 2

    Although Duryodhana’s words deeply hurt Vidura, he understood that Duryodhana was acting under māyā toward his own ruin. As a pure devotee, Vidura also saw the Lord’s internal energy helping him.

  3. 3

    Vidura was not attached to the royal palace and welcomed the chance to leave. Instead of remaining sorrowful, he inwardly thanked Duryodhana for the opportunity to engage fully in devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • The external energy of the Lord, the material nature, is fully under the control of the Supreme Lord, and the conditioned soul is fully under the grip of the external energy.
  • In spite of being very strongly insulted by Duryodhana’s words, Vidura could see that Duryodhana, under the influence of māyā, the external energy, was making progress on the path toward his own ruination.
  • He therefore considered the acts of the external energy to be supreme, yet he also saw how the internal energy of the Lord helped him in that particular situation.

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 3.1.16 quotesBG 3.27

In Bhagavad-gītā (3.27) it is stated: A conditioned soul is absorbed in material existence under the influence of different modes of external energy.

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

Separation → Devotional remembrance. Uddhava's tears and silence make remembrance emotionally immediate.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 3: Vidura meets Uddhava and hears of Kṛṣṇa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: Questions by Vidura

Vidura leaves home, travels to holy places, and asks Uddhava about Kṛṣṇa’s associates and his relatives.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. svayamhe himself
  2. dhanuḥ dvāribow on the door
  3. nidhāyakeeping
  4. māyāmthe external nature
  5. bhrātuḥbrother’s
  6. puraḥfrom the palace
  7. marmasuin the core of the heart
  8. tāḍitaḥbeing afflicted
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.1

    In this verse: “attached”, “māyā”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.1

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

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

Can I use a difficult situation as an opportunity to give more attention to serving the Lord?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today for devotional service instead of dwelling on an upsetting incident.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTurn Adversity Toward Devotional ServiceThis 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 3.1.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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