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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
3.10.113.10.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.10.12

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

विश्वं वै ब्रह्मतन्मात्रं संस्थितं विष्णुमायया ।

ईश्वरेण परिच्छिन्नं कालेनाव्यक्तमूर्तिना ॥ १२ ॥

viśvaṁ vai brahma-tan-mātraṁ

saṁsthitaṁ viṣṇu-māyayā

īśvareṇa paricchinnaṁ

kālenāvyakta-mūrtinā

Translation

This cosmic manifestation is separated from the Supreme Lord as material energy by means of kāla, which is the unmanifested, impersonal feature of the Lord. It is situated as the objective manifestation of the Lord under the influence of the same material energy of Viṣṇu.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The World Manifests the Lord’s Energy

  1. 1

    The manifested world is the selfsame Personality of Godhead, yet it appears to be something beyond or besides Him.

  2. 2

    This appearance of separation comes through kāla, the Lord’s unmanifested, impersonal feature. The purport compares it to a recorded voice separated from its speaker.

  3. 3

    The whole cosmic manifestation rests on the material energy of Viṣṇu. It is the objective manifestation of the Supreme Lord and exhibits His impersonal feature.

Key points from the purport
  • It appears so because of its being separated from the Lord by means of kāla.
  • As the tape recording is situated on the tape, so the whole cosmic manifestation is situated on the material energy and appears separate by means of kāla.
  • The material manifestation is therefore the objective manifestation of the Supreme Lord and exhibits His impersonal feature so much adored by impersonalist philosophers.

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 3.10.12 quotesSB 1.5.20

As stated previously by Nārada before Vyāsadeva, idaṁ hi viśvaṁ bhagavān ivetaraḥ: this manifested world is the selfsame Personality of Godhead, but it appears to be something else beyond or besides the Lord.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. viśvamthe material phenomenon
  2. vaicertainly
  3. brahmathe Supreme
  4. tat-mātramthe same as
  5. saṁsthitamsituated
  6. viṣṇu-māyayāby the energy of Viṣṇu
  7. īśvareṇaby the Personality of Godhead
  8. paricchinnamseparated
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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

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 3.10

    In this verse: “separated”, “separation”

  • 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.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I usually see the world as independent of the Lord, or as resting on His energy?

Practice

Look at one object around you and recall that the cosmic manifestation rests on the material energy of Viṣṇu.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 1.5.20

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.10's connections

Live this todayThe World Manifests the Lord’s EnergyThis 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 3.10.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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