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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
3.10.63.10.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.10.7

Sthāna· The universe in order
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

तद्विलोक्य वियद्व्यापि पुष्करं यदधिष्ठितम् ।

अनेन लोकान् प्राग्लीनान् कल्पितास्मीत्यचिन्तयत् ॥ ७ ॥

tad vilokya viyad-vyāpi

puṣkaraṁ yad-adhiṣṭhitam

anena lokān prāg-līnān

kalpitāsmīty acintayat

Translation

Thereafter he saw that the lotus on which he was situated was spread throughout the universe, and he contemplated how to create all the planets, which were previously merged in that very same lotus.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Creates; Brahmā Manifests

  1. 1

    Brahmā sees the lotus spread throughout the universe and considers how to manifest the planets previously merged within it.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead has already generated the material world and living entities in seedling forms. Brahmā’s task is to distribute those seedlings throughout the universe.

  3. 3

    The original creation is called sarga. The later manifestation carried out by Brahmā is called visarga.

Key points from the purport
  • The seeds of all the planets in the universe were impregnated in the lotus on which Brahmā was situated.
  • All the planets were already generated by the Lord, and all the living entities were also born in Brahmā.
  • The material world and the living entities were all already generated in seedling forms by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Brahmā was to disseminate the same seedlings all over the universe.

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. tat vilokyalooking into that
  2. viyat-vyāpiextensively widespread
  3. puṣkaramthe lotus
  4. yatthat which
  5. adhiṣṭhitamhe was situated
  6. anenaby this
  7. lokānall the planets
  8. prāk-līnānpreviously merged in dissolution
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 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 distinguishing sarga from visarga clarify your understanding of Brahmā’s role?

Practice

Write a one-sentence distinction between the Lord’s original creation and Brahmā’s later manifestation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Creates; Brahmā ManifestsThis 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 3.10.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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