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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
3.12.13.12.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.12.2

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

ससर्जाग्रेऽन्धतामिस्रमथ तामिस्रमादिकृत् ।

महामोहं च मोहं च तमश्चाज्ञानवृत्तय: ॥ २ ॥

sasarjāgre ’ndha-tāmisram

atha tāmisram ādi-kṛt

mahāmohaṁ ca mohaṁ ca

tamaś cājñāna-vṛttayaḥ

Translation

Brahmā first created the nescient engagements like self-deception, the sense of death, anger after frustration, the sense of false ownership, and the illusory bodily conception, or forgetfulness of one’s real identity.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Forgetfulness Begins Material Bondage

  1. 1

    Before creating the different species, Brahmā created the conditions of material life. The first condition is forgetfulness of one’s real identity.

  2. 2

    Although the pure living soul is deathless and birthless, false identification produces fear of death and false ownership.

  3. 3

    Material resources are the Supreme Lord’s property, provided for peaceful living and self-realization. The conditioned living entity is not equal to the Supreme Being.

Key points from the purport
  • Unless a living entity forgets his real identity, it is impossible for him to live in the material conditions of life.
  • Therefore the first condition of material existence is forgetfulness of one’s real identity.
  • And by forgetting one’s real identity, one is sure to be afraid of death, although a pure living soul is deathless and birthless.

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 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. sasarjacreated
  2. agreat first
  3. andha-tāmisramthe sense of death
  4. athathen
  5. tāmisramanger upon frustration
  6. ādi-kṛtall these
  7. mahā-mohamownership of enjoyable objects
  8. caalso
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.12

    In this verse: “death”, “fear”, “deathless”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.12

    In this verse: “material”

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

Where do I treat the Supreme Lord’s resources as exclusively mine?

Practice

Before using one possession today, pause to remember that it belongs to the Supreme Lord and is meant to support self-realization.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayForgetfulness Begins Material BondageThis 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 3.12.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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