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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 11: Calculation of Time, from the Atom
3.11.273.11.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.11.28

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.11.18inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तमोमात्रामुपादाय प्रतिसंरुद्धविक्रम: ।

कालेनानुगताशेष आस्ते तूष्णीं दिनात्यये ॥ २८ ॥

tamo-mātrām upādāya

pratisaṁruddha-vikramaḥ

kālenānugatāśeṣa

āste tūṣṇīṁ dinātyaye

Translation

At the end of the day, under the insignificant portion of the mode of darkness, the powerful manifestation of the universe merges in the darkness of night. By the influence of eternal time, the innumerable living entities remain merged in that dissolution, and everything is silent.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Eternal Time Brings Dissolution and Silence

  1. 1

    Brahmā’s night comes through time’s influence upon an insignificant portion of material nature in darkness. The universe’s powerful manifestation becomes withdrawn.

  2. 2

    Rudra, the incarnation of darkness, effects the dissolution of the three worlds. He is represented by the fire of eternal time blazing over them.

  3. 3

    Innumerable living entities merge into the dissolution, and everything becomes silent. The purport compares this to a curtain dropping over the scene of the Supreme Lord’s energy.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse is an explanation of the night of Brahmā, which is the effect of the influence of time in touch with an insignificant portion of the modes of material nature in darkness.
  • The dissolution of the three worlds is effected by the incarnation of darkness, Rudra, represented by the fire of eternal time which blazes over the three worlds.
  • The innumerable living entities merge into that dissolution, which appears to be the dropping of the curtain of the scene of the Supreme Lord’s energy, and so everything becomes silent.

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 11: Calculation of Time, from the Atom

Maitreya describes time from atomic measurements to Brahmā’s lifespan, along with cycles of creation and devastation.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.11
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamaḥthe mode of ignorance, or the darkness of night
  2. mātrāman insignificant portion only
  3. upādāyaaccepting
  4. pratisaṁruddha-vikramaḥsuspending all power of manifestation
  5. kālenaby means of the eternal kāla
  6. anugatamerged in
  7. aśeṣaḥinnumerable living entities
  8. āsteremains
  9. tūṣṇīmsilent
  10. dina-atyayeat the end of the day
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.11

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does the image of a closing curtain teach me about the Lord’s manifested energy?

Practice

Sit silently for a minute and reflect on the purport’s image of the curtain dropping over the cosmic scene.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEternal Time Brings Dissolution and SilenceThis 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 3.11.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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