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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
3.12.223.12.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.12.23

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.12.20inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

उत्सङ्गान्नारदो जज्ञे दक्षोऽङ्गुष्ठात्स्वयम्भुव: ।

प्राणाद्वसिष्ठ: सञ्जातो भृगुस्त्वचि करात्क्रतु: ॥ २३ ॥

utsaṅgān nārado jajñe

dakṣo ’ṅguṣṭhāt svayambhuvaḥ

prāṇād vasiṣṭhaḥ sañjāto

bhṛgus tvaci karāt kratuḥ

Translation

Nārada was born from the deliberation of Brahmā, which is the best part of the body. Vasiṣṭha was born from his breathing, Dakṣa from a thumb, Bhṛgu from his touch, and Kratu from his hand.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

A Pure Devotee Gives Loving Service

  1. 1

    Nārada was born from Brahmā’s best deliberation because he could deliver the Supreme Lord by his good will.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be realized by any amount of Vedic knowledge or penance. A pure devotee like Nārada can give access to His loving service.

  3. 3

    Delivering the Lord does not mean treating Him as a commodity. Nārada gives the path of bhakti-yoga, through which one serves the Lord in transcendental love.

Key points from the purport
  • Nārada was born from the best deliberation of Brahmā because Nārada was able to deliver the Supreme Lord to anyone he liked.
  • But a pure devotee of the Lord like Nārada can deliver the Supreme Lord by his good will.
  • The very name Nārada suggests that he can deliver the Supreme Lord.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. utsaṅgātby transcendental deliberation
  2. nāradaḥMahāmuni Nārada
  3. jajñewas generated
  4. dakṣaḥDakṣa
  5. aṅguṣṭhātfrom the thumb
  6. svayambhuvaḥof Brahmā
  7. prāṇātfrom the life air, or breathing
  8. vasiṣṭhaḥVasiṣṭha
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.12

    In this verse: “devotee”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 3.12

    In this verse: “love”

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

Are you seeking only knowledge, or also the opportunity to serve the Lord with love?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer today asking for the opportunity to develop loving service to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.12's connections

Live this todayA Pure Devotee Gives Loving ServiceThis 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 3.12.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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