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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 10: Divisions of the Creation
3.10.83.10.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.10.9

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

एतावाञ्जीवलोकस्य संस्थाभेद: समाहृत: ।

धर्मस्य ह्यनिमित्तस्य विपाक: परमेष्ठ्यसौ ॥ ९ ॥

etāvāñ jīva-lokasya

saṁsthā-bhedaḥ samāhṛtaḥ

dharmasya hy animittasya

vipākaḥ parameṣṭhy asau

Translation

Lord Brahmā is the most exalted personality in the universe because of his causeless devotional service unto the Lord in mature transcendental knowledge. He therefore created all the fourteen planetary divisions for inhabitation by the different types of living entities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Is the Basis of Exaltation

  1. 1

    Brahmā is the most exalted personality in the universe because of his causeless devotional service in mature transcendental knowledge. He creates fourteen planetary divisions for different living entities.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Lord is the reservoir of all the living entities’ qualities. As His parts and parcels, they reflect different proportions of those qualities and inhabit different species and planets.

  3. 3

    The higher planets described here do not dissolve in the devastating water because of their inhabitants’ causeless devotional service. Their existence continues until the end of dvi-parārdha, when they are generally liberated from material birth and death.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Lord is the reservoir of all the qualities of the living entities.
  • The conditioned souls in the material world reflect only part of those qualities, and therefore they are sometimes called pratibimbas.
  • This is because of the causeless devotional service rendered unto the Lord by their inhabitants, whose existence continues up to the end of dvi-parārdha time, when they are generally liberated from the chain of birth and death in the material world.

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. etāvānup to this
  2. jīva-lokasyaof the planets inhabited by the living entities
  3. saṁsthā-bhedaḥdifferent situations of habitation
  4. samāhṛtaḥperformed completely
  5. dharmasyaof religion
  6. hicertainly
  7. animittasyaof causelessness
  8. vipākaḥmature stage
  9. parameṣṭhīthe highest personality in the universe
  10. asauthat
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.10

    In this verse: “causeless”

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 this verse help you value devotional service above material position?

Practice

Perform one small act of devotional service today without seeking recognition or a material reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Is the Basis of ExaltationThis 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.

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