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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
3.1.163.1.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.1.17

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vidurasince 3.1.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit
A turning point forVidura· The exile and journey

स निर्गत: कौरवपुण्यलब्धो

गजाह्वयात्तीर्थपद: पदानि ।

अन्वाक्रमत्पुण्यचिकीर्षयोर्व्यां

अधिष्ठितो यानि सहस्रमूर्ति: ॥ १७ ॥

sa nirgataḥ kaurava-puṇya-labdho

gajāhvayāt tīrtha-padaḥ padāni

anvākramat puṇya-cikīrṣayorvyām

adhiṣṭhito yāni sahasra-mūrtiḥ

Translation

By his piety, Vidura achieved the advantages of the pious Kauravas. After leaving Hastināpura, he took shelter of many places of pilgrimages, which are the Lord’s lotus feet. With a desire to gain a high order of pious life, he traveled to holy places where thousands of transcendental forms of the Lord are situated.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Purification and Devotee Guidance

  1. 1

    High birth, wealth, learning and beauty result from past pious acts. These advantages alone are not sufficient to obtain the Lord’s grace and engage in His loving service.

  2. 2

    Vidura humbly sought greater purification through pilgrimage. Pilgrims should not merely visit holy places but eagerly seek the great souls serving the Lord there.

  3. 3

    The arcā-mūrti is not an idol but the Lord Himself, kindly accepting our service in a visible form. The guidance of a pure devotee is always required to understand His presence.

Key points from the purport
  • Vidura considered himself less pious, and therefore he decided to travel to all the great places of pilgrimage in the world in order to achieve greater piety and advance nearer to the Lord.
  • In each and every place of pilgrimage, the Lord is present in His various transcendental forms.
  • The Lord is all-powerful, and therefore He is able to accept our service by presentation of His arcā form.

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 3.1.17 quotesBG 7.28

In Bhagavad-gītā (7.28) this is confirmed in the following verse: Persons who are sinful asuras like Kaṁsa and Jarāsandha cannot think of Lord Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe (Vidura)
  2. nirgataḥafter having quit
  3. kauravathe Kuru dynasty
  4. puṇyapiety
  5. labdhaḥso achieved
  6. gaja-āhvayātfrom Hastināpura
  7. tīrtha-padaḥof the Supreme Lord
  8. padānipilgrimages
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

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.1

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “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

Am I seeking genuine purification and guidance, or feeling satisfied with outward advantages?

Practice

Write down one question about serving the Lord that you would like to ask a pure devotee.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.1's connections

Live this todaySeek Purification and Devotee GuidanceThis 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 3.1.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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