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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.10.1

Who is speaking and story frame

विदुर उवाच

अन्तर्हिते भगवति ब्रह्मा लोकपितामह: ।

प्रजा: ससर्ज कतिधा दैहिकीर्मानसीर्विभु: ॥ १ ॥

vidura uvāca

antarhite bhagavati

brahmā loka-pitāmahaḥ

prajāḥ sasarja katidhā

daihikīr mānasīr vibhuḥ

Translation

Śrī Vidura said: O great sage, please let me know how Brahmā, the grandfather of the planetary inhabitants, created the bodies of the living entities from his own body and mind after the disappearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Inquiring About Brahmā’s Work of Creation

  1. 1

    Vidura respectfully asks the great sage how Brahmā created the bodies of living entities.

  2. 2

    Brahmā is described as the grandfather of the planetary inhabitants. His work of creation involved his own body and mind.

  3. 3

    Vidura asks about creation after the disappearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

How it feels

Mystery → Cosmic wonder. The origin of the world is revealed through inquiry and divine grace.

Chapters 5–12 of Canto 3: Creation and Brahmā's bewilderment. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 10: Divisions of the Creation

Maitreya explains the divisions of creation and Brahmā’s preparation of planetary homes for living entities.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. viduraḥ uvācaŚrī Vidura said
  2. antarhiteafter the disappearance
  3. bhagavatiof the Personality of Godhead
  4. brahmāthe first created living being
  5. loka-pitāmahaḥthe grandfather of all planetary inhabitants
  6. prajāḥgenerations
  7. sasarjacreated
  8. katidhāḥhow many
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

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

What would you like to understand more clearly about Brahmā’s work of creation?

Practice

Write down one question you have about the creation described in this verse.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayInquiring About Brahmā’s Work of CreationThis 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 3.10.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.