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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
3.10.163.10.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.10.17

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

वैकारिको देवसर्ग: पञ्चमो यन्मयं मन: ।

पष्ठस्तु तमस: सर्गो यस्त्वबुद्धिकृत: प्रभो: ॥ १७ ॥

vaikāriko deva-sargaḥ

pañcamo yan-mayaṁ manaḥ

ṣaṣṭhas tu tamasaḥ sargo

yas tv abuddhi-kṛtaḥ prabhoḥ

Translation

The fifth creation is that of the controlling deities by the interaction of the mode of goodness, of which the mind is the sum total. The sixth creation is the ignorant darkness of the living entity, by which the master acts as a fool.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Turns Ignorance Into Knowledge

  1. 1

    The fifth creation brings forth the controlling deities through the mode of goodness, with the mind as the sum total. These deities are devotees of Lord Viṣṇu and assist Him in managing material affairs.

  2. 2

    The sixth creation is the darkness of ignorance. Under its influence, living beings falsely claim ownership of material things and forget their relationship with the Supreme Lord.

  3. 3

    For devotees engaged in pure devotional service, the Lord’s bewildering energy becomes pure knowledge. Conditioned souls are not originally fools, but ignorance prevents them from using knowledge properly.

Key points from the purport
  • Although a living entity is the master of the material world, he is conditioned by ignorance, by the false impression of being the proprietor of material things.
  • The material nature is called avidyā, or ignorance, but to the devotees of the Lord engaged in pure devotional service, this energy becomes vidyā, or pure knowledge.
  • The material nature therefore appears to function in three phases: as the creative principle of the material world, as ignorance and as knowledge.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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. vaikārikaḥinteraction of the mode of goodness
  2. devathe demigods, or controlling deities
  3. sargaḥcreation
  4. pañcamaḥfifth
  5. yatthat which
  6. mayamsum total
  7. manaḥmind
  8. ṣaṣṭhaḥsixth
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.10

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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.10

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • 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

Where is a feeling of ownership making me forget my relationship with the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Choose one thing you call “mine” and pause to remember the Lord rather than claiming independent ownership.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Turns Ignorance Into KnowledgeThis 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 3.10.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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