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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
3.1.293.1.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.1.30

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

कच्चिद्धरे: सौम्य सुत: सद‍ृक्ष

आस्तेऽग्रणी रथिनां साधु साम्ब: ।

असूत यं जाम्बवती व्रताढ्या

देवं गुहं योऽम्बिकया धृतोऽग्रे ॥ ३० ॥

kaccid dhareḥ saumya sutaḥ sadṛkṣa

āste ’graṇī rathināṁ sādhu sāmbaḥ

asūta yaṁ jāmbavatī vratāḍhyā

devaṁ guhaṁ yo ’mbikayā dhṛto ’gre

Translation

O gentle one, does Sāmba fare well? He exactly resembles the son of the Personality of Godhead. In a previous birth he was born as Kārttikeya in the womb of the wife of Lord Śiva, and now he has been born in the womb of Jāmbavatī, the most enriched wife of Kṛṣṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Associates Serve to Enrich Kṛṣṇa’s Pastimes

  1. 1

    Vidura asked about Sāmba, born to Jāmbavatī as Kṛṣṇa’s son. Kārttikeya had appeared as Sāmba.

  2. 2

    When Lord Kṛṣṇa descends into the material world, His plenary portions also appear with Him to carry out different functions.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s associates served in different capacities to enrich His pastimes. Their varied roles were united in service to Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śiva, one of the three qualitative incarnations of the Personality of Godhead, is the plenary expansion of the Lord.
  • Kārttikeya, born of him, is on the level of Pradyumna, another son of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • When Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa descends into the material world, all His plenary portions also appear with Him to exhibit different functions of the Lord.

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. kaccitwhether
  2. hareḥof the Personality of Godhead
  3. saumyaO grave one
  4. sutaḥson
  5. sadṛkṣaḥsimilar
  6. āstefares well
  7. agraṇīḥforemost
  8. rathināmof the warriors
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 can I use my own abilities in service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Choose one ability you have and use it in one small act of devotional service today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAssociates Serve to Enrich Kṛṣṇa’s PastimesThis 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 3.1.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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