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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
3.1.433.1.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.1.44

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

अजस्य जन्मोत्पथनाशनाय

कर्माण्यकर्तुर्ग्रहणाय पुंसाम् ।

नन्वन्यथा कोऽर्हति देहयोगं

परो गुणानामुत कर्मतन्त्रम् ॥ ४४ ॥

ajasya janmotpatha-nāśanāya

karmāṇy akartur grahaṇāya puṁsām

nanv anyathā ko ’rhati deha-yogaṁ

paro guṇānām uta karma-tantram

Translation

The appearance of the Lord is manifested for the annihilation of the upstarts. His activities are transcendental and are enacted for the understanding of all persons. Otherwise, since the Lord is transcendental to all material modes, what purpose could He serve by coming to earth?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Appearance and Activities Are Transcendental

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, has an eternal, blissful form. His appearance is not an ordinary birth forced by material nature or the reactions of past deeds.

  2. 2

    The Lord is already full in all opulences and has no need to improve Himself through work. His independent pastimes are never subject to the law of karma.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s activities attract living beings toward devotional service, and He minimizes or nullifies His devotees’ past reactions. Devotees relish His glorious activities without seeking material rewards or salvation.

Key points from the purport
  • The law of karma enacted by the Supreme Lord for the living entities cannot be applicable to Him, nor has the Lord any desire to improve Himself by activities like those of ordinary living beings.
  • One should always discriminate between the activities of the Lord and those of ordinary living beings.
  • His activities are to attract the ordinary man towards 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.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 3.1.44 quotesBG 4.14

In Bhagavad-gītā (4.14) it is said: The law of karma enacted by the Supreme Lord for the living entities cannot be applicable to Him, nor has the Lord any desire to improve Himself by activities like those of ordinary living beings.

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. ajasyaof the unborn
  2. janmaappearance
  3. utpatha-nāśanāyafor the sake of annihilating the upstarts
  4. karmāṇiworks
  5. akartuḥof one who has nothing to do
  6. grahaṇāyato take up
  7. puṁsāmof all persons
  8. nanu anyathāotherwise
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.1

    In this verse: “understanding”

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 does understanding Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental position change the way I hear about His activities?

Practice

Reread a passage from this purport about the Lord’s activities, taking a moment to appreciate them without asking for a material reward.

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 todayKṛṣṇa’s Appearance and Activities Are TranscendentalThis 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 3.1.44? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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