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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
3.12.253.12.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.12.26

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

हृदि कामो भ्रुव: क्रोधो लोभश्चाधरदच्छदात् ।

आस्याद्वाक्सिन्धवो मेढ्रान्निऋर्ति: पायोरघाश्रय: ॥ २६ ॥

hṛdi kāmo bhruvaḥ krodho

lobhaś cādhara-dacchadāt

āsyād vāk sindhavo meḍhrān

nirṛtiḥ pāyor aghāśrayaḥ

Translation

Lust and desire became manifested from the heart of Brahmā, anger from between his eyebrows, greed from between his lips, the power of speaking from his mouth, the ocean from his penis, and low and abominable activities from his anus, the source of all sins.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Direct Desires Toward the Lord’s Service

  1. 1

    Mundane education does not free a person from lust, anger or low desires. Giving these up is very difficult without devotional service to the Lord.

  2. 2

    The mind cannot be made desireless. Becoming desireless means giving up desires that destroy spiritual values.

  3. 3

    A devotee keeps the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the mind and relates all desires to His service. Good qualifications can be expected from a pure devotee who thinks of the Lord with faith.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore it is very difficult to give up lust and the desires for low activities until one is in the line of devotional service to the Lord.
  • When one is frustrated in lust and low desires, anger is generated from the mind and expressed from between the eyebrows.
  • Even if a man is endowed with the favor of the goddess of learning, it is quite possible for his heart to be full of lust and material desire and his eyebrows to display symptoms of anger.

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. hṛdifrom the heart
  2. kāmaḥlust
  3. bhruvaḥfrom the eyebrows
  4. krodhaḥanger
  5. lobhaḥgreed
  6. caalso
  7. adhara-dacchadātfrom between the lips
  8. āsyātfrom the mouth
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.12

    In this verse: “sins”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “lust”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

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

Which desire could you redirect toward the Lord’s service today?

Practice

When a distracting desire arises today, pause and choose one small way to serve the Lord instead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDirect Desires Toward the Lord’s 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 3.12.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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