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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
3.10.33.10.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.10.4

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.10.4inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

विरिञ्चोऽपि तथा चक्रे दिव्यं वर्षशतं तप: ।

आत्मन्यात्मानमावेश्य यथाह भगवानज: ॥ ४ ॥

maitreya uvāca

viriñco ’pi tathā cakre

divyaṁ varṣa-śataṁ tapaḥ

ātmany ātmānam āveśya

yathāha bhagavān ajaḥ

Translation

The greatly learned sage Maitreya said: O Vidura, Brahmā thus engaged himself in penances for one hundred celestial years, as advised by the Personality of Godhead, and applied himself in devotional service to the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Is the Highest Penance

  1. 1

    Following the Personality of Godhead’s advice, Brahmā performs penances for one hundred celestial years and engages in devotional service.

  2. 2

    Engaging oneself for Nārāyaṇa means serving the Lord. Such service is the highest penance one can perform, for any number of years.

  3. 3

    There is no retirement from service to the Lord. It is eternal and ever encouraging.

Key points from the purport
  • That Brahmā engaged himself for the Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, means that he engaged himself in the service of the Lord; that is the highest penance one can perform for any number of years.
  • There is no retirement from such service, which is eternal and ever encouraging.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. maitreyaḥ uvācathe great sage Maitreya said
  2. viriñcaḥBrahmā
  3. apialso
  4. tathāin that manner
  5. cakreperformed
  6. divyamcelestial
  7. varṣa-śatamone hundred years
  8. tapaḥpenances
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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 might seeing devotional service as ever encouraging change your attitude toward steady effort?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today for devotional service, giving it your full attention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Is the Highest PenanceThis 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 3.10.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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