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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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 11: Calculation of Time, from the Atom
3.11.83.11.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.11.9

Sthāna· The universe in order
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.10.11inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

द्वादशार्धपलोन्मानं चतुर्भिश्चतुरङ्गुलै: ।

स्वर्णमाषै: कृतच्छिद्रं यावत्प्रस्थजलप्लुतम् ॥ ९ ॥

dvādaśārdha-palonmānaṁ

caturbhiś catur-aṅgulaiḥ

svarṇa-māṣaiḥ kṛta-cchidraṁ

yāvat prastha-jala-plutam

Translation

The measuring pot for one nāḍikā, or daṇḍa, can be prepared with a six-pala-weight [fourteen ounce] pot of copper, in which a hole is bored with a gold probe weighing four māṣa and measuring four fingers long. When the pot is placed on water, the time before the water overflows in the pot is called one daṇḍa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Measuring Time With a Water Pot

  1. 1

    The measuring vessel is a six-pala-weight copper pot with a hole made by a gold probe. The purport specifies a probe weighing no more than four māṣa and measuring no longer than four fingers.

  2. 2

    The probe regulates the diameter of the hole. When the pot is placed in water, the time before it overflows is called one daṇḍa.

  3. 3

    The purport compares this method with measuring time by sand in a glass. It notes that Vedic civilization had knowledge of physics, chemistry and higher mathematics, with measurements made as simply as possible.

Key points from the purport
  • It is advised herein that the bore in the copper measuring pot must be made with a probe weighing not more than four māṣa and measuring not longer than four fingers.
  • The pot is submerged in water, and the overflooding time is called a daṇḍa.
  • This is another way of measuring the duration of a daṇḍa, just as time is measured by sand in a glass.

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. dvādaśa-ardhasix
  2. palaof the scale of weight
  3. unmānammeasuring pot
  4. caturbhiḥby weight of four
  5. catuḥ-aṅgulaiḥfour fingers by measure
  6. svarṇaof gold
  7. māṣaiḥof the weight
  8. kṛta-chidrammaking a hole
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 3.11

    In this verse: “knowledge”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does this simple measuring method help you appreciate about the knowledge described in the purport?

Practice

Sketch the copper pot and its hole, and label the time until overflowing as one daṇḍa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMeasuring Time With a Water PotThis 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 3.11.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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