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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 12: Creation of the Kumāras and Others
3.11.423.12.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.12.1

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.12.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

इति ते वर्णित: क्षत्त: कालाख्य: परमात्मन: ।

महिमा वेदगर्भोऽथ यथास्राक्षीन्निबोध मे ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvāca

iti te varṇitaḥ kṣattaḥ

kālākhyaḥ paramātmanaḥ

mahimā veda-garbho ’tha

yathāsrākṣīn nibodha me

Translation

Śrī Maitreya said: O learned Vidura, so far I have explained to you the glories of the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His feature of kāla. Now you can hear from me about the creation of Brahmā, the reservoir of all Vedic knowledge.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear About Brahmā’s Creation

  1. 1

    Śrī Maitreya has explained the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His feature of kāla, or eternal time.

  2. 2

    He now invites learned Vidura to hear about Brahmā’s creation.

  3. 3

    Brahmā is described as the reservoir of all Vedic knowledge.

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 12: Creation of the Kumāras and Others

Brahmā’s creation continues with sages, Rudra, sacrificial practices, religious principles, and further forms of life.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. maitreyaḥ uvācaŚrī Maitreya said
  2. itithus
  3. teunto you
  4. varṇitaḥdescribed
  5. kṣattaḥO Vidura
  6. kāla-ākhyaḥby the name eternal time
  7. paramātmanaḥof the Supersoul
  8. mahimāglories
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.12

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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 attentively do I listen when invited to hear about the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once more, giving your full attention to Maitreya’s invitation to hear.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear About Brahmā’s CreationThis 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 3.12.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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