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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
3.11.393.11.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.11.40

Sarga· Creation
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

विकारै: सहितो युक्तैर्विशेषादिभिरावृत: ।

आण्डकोशो बहिरयं पञ्चाशत्कोटिविस्तृत: ॥ ४० ॥

vikāraiḥ sahito yuktair

viśeṣādibhir āvṛtaḥ

āṇḍakośo bahir ayaṁ

pañcāśat-koṭi-vistṛtaḥ

Translation

This phenomenal material world is expanded to a diameter of four billion miles, as a combination of eight material elements transformed into sixteen further categories, within and without, as follows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Material Universe Has Ordered Categories

  1. 1

    Sāṅkhya philosophy analytically studies the material world. Its sixteen diversities are the eleven senses and five sense objects.

  2. 2

    The eight gross and subtle material elements are earth, water, fire, air, sky, mind, intelligence and ego. Together with the sixteen diversities, they are distributed throughout the universe.

  3. 3

    The universe described here has a diameter of four billion miles. Beyond our experienced universe are innumerable others, some larger, composed of similar material elements.

Key points from the purport
  • As explained before, the entire material world is a display of sixteen diversities and eight material elements.
  • The first sixteen diversities are the eleven senses and five sense objects, and the eight elements are the gross and subtle matter, namely earth, water, fire, air, sky, mind, intelligence and ego.
  • Some of them are bigger than the present one, and all of them are clustered together under similar material elements as described below.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vikāraiḥby the transformation of the elements
  2. sahitaḥalong with
  3. yuktaiḥbeing so amalgamated
  4. viśeṣamanifestations
  5. ādibhiḥby them
  6. āvṛtaḥcovered
  7. āṇḍa-kośaḥthe universe
  8. bahiḥoutside
3

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.11

    In this verse: “philosophy”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What changes in my perspective when I consider mind, intelligence and ego among the material elements?

Practice

Write out the eight material elements, noting that they include mind, intelligence and ego.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Material Universe Has Ordered CategoriesThis 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 3.11.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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