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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
3.1.233.1.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.1.24

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

ततस्त्वतिव्रज्य सुराष्ट्रमृद्धं

सौवीरमत्स्यान् कुरुजाङ्गलांश्च ।

कालेन तावद्यमुनामुपेत्य

तत्रोद्धवं भागवतं ददर्श ॥ २४ ॥

tatas tv ativrajya surāṣṭram ṛddhaṁ

sauvīra-matsyān kurujāṅgalāṁś ca

kālena tāvad yamunām upetya

tatroddhavaṁ bhāgavataṁ dadarśa

Translation

Thereafter he passed through very wealthy provinces like Surat, Sauvīra and Matsya and through western India, known as Kurujāṅgala. At last he reached the bank of the Yamunā, where he happened to meet Uddhava, the great devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seeking Kṛṣṇa in Pure Devotion

  1. 1

    Vidura met Uddhava on the bank of the Yamunā. Both were elevated devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    The land through which Kṛṣṇa traveled is sacred. A pure devotee’s eager search for Him is as good as seeing Him personally.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa and His remembrance are on the absolute plane. Through love and devotional service, pure devotees always see the Supreme Personality of Godhead in their hearts.

Key points from the purport
  • This land is sacred because Lord Kṛṣṇa traveled through it many times.
  • Philosophically, one can understand that Lord Kṛṣṇa and His remembrance are on the absolute plane and that the very idea of searching for Him at Vṛndāvana in pure God consciousness gives more pleasure to the devotee than seeing Him face to face.
  • Both Vidura and Uddhava were such elevated devotees, and therefore they both came to the bank of the Yamunā and met each other.

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

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. tataḥfrom there
  2. tubut
  3. ativrajyaby passing over
  4. surāṣṭramthe kingdom of Surat
  5. ṛddhamvery wealthy
  6. sauvīrathe kingdom of Sauvīra
  7. matsyānthe kingdom of Matsya
  8. kurujāṅgalānthe kingdom of western India up to the Delhi province
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealthy”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 3.1

    In this verse: “love”

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 eager am I to remember Kṛṣṇa rather than merely think about sacred places?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute remembering Kṛṣṇa and His presence at Vṛndāvana.

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 todaySeeking Kṛṣṇa in Pure DevotionThis 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 3.1.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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