1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
3.1.413.1.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.1.42

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

सोऽहं हरेर्मर्त्यविडम्बनेन

द‍ृशो नृणां चालयतो विधातु: ।

नान्योपलक्ष्य: पदवीं प्रसादा-

च्चरामि पश्यन् गतविस्मयोऽत्र ॥ ४२ ॥

so ’haṁ harer martya-viḍambanena

dṛśo nṛṇāṁ cālayato vidhātuḥ

nānyopalakṣyaḥ padavīṁ prasādāc

carāmi paśyan gata-vismayo ’tra

Translation

I am not astonished at this, having traveled over the world without being seen by others. The activities of the Personality of Godhead, which are like those of a man in this mortal world, are bewildering to others, but I know of His greatness by His grace, and thus I am happy in all respects.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Dependence on Kṛṣṇa Brings True Freedom

  1. 1

    Dhṛtarāṣṭra and his sons wanted to lord it over the world by their own strength. Vidura instead sought sincere devotional service and surrendered to the Absolute Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Vidura experienced dependence on the Lord’s mercy as greater freedom than so-called freedom at home. Purified dependence brings fearlessness through conviction that the Lord protects His devotee.

  3. 3

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa appeared in His eternal, blissful form of Śyāmasundara, yet nondevotees could not recognize Him. Pure devotees know His glories through devotional service and His grace.

Key points from the purport
  • By the grace of Lord Kṛṣṇa, he was not foolish like his brother, and thus his brother’s association could not influence him.
  • The Lord encouraged them in this, and thus they became more and more bewildered.
  • But Vidura wanted to achieve sincere devotional service of the Lord and therefore became a soul absolutely surrendered to the Absolute Personality of Godhead.

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 3.1.42 quotesBG 9.11

Avajānānti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam: He is always bewildering to the nondevotees, but He is always seen by the devotees by dint of their pure devotional service to Him.

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. saḥ ahamtherefore, I
  2. hareḥof the Personality of Godhead
  3. martyain this mortal world
  4. viḍambanenawithout being recognized
  5. dṛśaḥon sight
  6. nṛṇāmof the people in general
  7. cālayataḥbewildering
  8. vidhātuḥin order to do it
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.1

    In this verse: “grace”, “mercy”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.1

    In this verse: “fearlessness”

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

Where am I relying only on my own strength rather than remembering my dependence on the Lord’s mercy?

Practice

Before one task today, pause and pray for the Lord’s mercy and the desire to serve Him sincerely.

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 todayDependence on Kṛṣṇa Brings True FreedomThis 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 3.1.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories