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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 10: Divisions of the Creation
3.10.103.10.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.10.11

Sarga· Creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.10.11inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

गुणव्यतिकराकारो निर्विशेषोऽप्रतिष्ठित: ।

पुरुषस्तदुपादानमात्मानं लीलयासृजत् ॥ ११ ॥

maitreya uvāca

guṇa-vyatikarākāro

nirviśeṣo ’pratiṣṭhitaḥ

puruṣas tad-upādānam

ātmānaṁ līlayāsṛjat

Translation

Maitreya said: Eternal time is the primeval source of the interactions of the three modes of material nature. It is unchangeable and limitless, and it works as the instrument of the Supreme Personality of Godhead for His pastimes in the material creation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Time Is the Supreme Lord’s Instrument

  1. 1

    Eternal time is the source of the interactions of the three modes of material nature. It works as the instrument of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His creative pastimes.

  2. 2

    Time is an impersonal feature of the Lord, without beginning or end. Material nature works under its superintendence.

  3. 3

    Even a slight fraction of time cannot be purchased with millions of dollars. A moment lost without benefit is therefore a great loss in life.

Key points from the purport
  • The impersonal time factor is the background of the material manifestation as the instrument of the Supreme Lord.
  • This time factor is the material cause of creation and is therefore a self-expansion of the Personality of Godhead.
  • The external energy, or material nature, works under the superintendence of the time factor as the Lord Himself, and that is why material nature appears to have produced so many wonderful things in the cosmic manifestation.

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 3.10.11 quotesBG 9.10

Bhagavad-gītā (9.10) confirms this conclusion as follows:

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

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. maitreyaḥ uvācaMaitreya said
  2. guṇa-vyatikaraof the interactions of the modes of material nature
  3. ākāraḥsource
  4. nirviśeṣaḥwithout diversity
  5. apratiṣṭhitaḥunlimited
  6. puruṣaḥof the Supreme Person
  7. tatthat
  8. upādānaminstrument
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sarga · The creation of the universe

    Where does the universe come from? · Subject 1 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.10

    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 does seeing time as the Lord’s instrument change the value I give each moment?

Practice

Use one minute you might otherwise waste to reflect on time as the Supreme Lord’s instrument.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTime Is the Supreme Lord’s InstrumentThis 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 3.10.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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