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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
3.12.323.12.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.12.33

Nirodha· Winding up
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

स इत्थं गृणत: पुत्रान् पुरो दृष्ट्वा प्रजापतीन् ।

प्रजापतिपतिस्तन्वं तत्याज व्रीडितस्तदा ।

तां दिशो जगृहुर्घोरां नीहारं यद्विदुस्तम: ॥ ३३ ॥

sa itthaṁ gṛṇataḥ putrān

puro dṛṣṭvā prajāpatīn

prajāpati-patis tanvaṁ

tatyāja vrīḍitas tadā

tāṁ diśo jagṛhur ghorāṁ

nīhāraṁ yad vidus tamaḥ

Translation

The father of all Prajāpatis, Brahmā, thus seeing all his Prajāpati sons speaking in that way, became very much ashamed and at once gave up the body he had accepted. Later that body appeared in all directions as the dangerous fog in darkness.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Take Shelter of the Lord’s Light

  1. 1

    Hearing his sons, Brahmā became ashamed and gave up the body he had accepted. That body appeared as dangerous fog in darkness.

  2. 2

    The purport warns that sinful acts diminish one’s duration of life, blessings and opulence. It particularly warns against unrestricted sexual indulgence, even when contemplated.

  3. 3

    Sinful life and ignorance reinforce one another. One who takes shelter of the Lord, the perpetual light, need not fear the darkness of ignorance.

Key points from the purport
  • The best way to compensate for one’s sinful acts is to give up one’s body at once, and Brahmā, the leader of the living entities, showed this by his personal example.
  • Brahmā has a fabulous duration of life, but he was obliged to give up his body due to his grievous sin, even though he had merely contemplated it in his mind without having actually done it.
  • Even to think of abominable sex life is sinful, and to compensate for such acts, one has to give up his body.

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. saḥhe (Brahmā)
  2. itthamthus
  3. gṛṇataḥspeaking
  4. putrānsons
  5. puraḥbefore
  6. dṛṣṭvāseeing
  7. prajā-patīnall the progenitors of living entities
  8. prajāpati-patiḥthe father of them (Brahmā)
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “dangerous”, “fear”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 3.12

    In this verse: “gave up”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.12

    In this verse: “father”

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

What thought or habit draws me toward ignorance rather than the Lord’s light?

Practice

Pause when an unwholesome thought arises and offer a short prayer for shelter in the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTake Shelter of the Lord’s LightThis 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 3.12.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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