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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
3.12.333.12.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.12.34

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

कदाचिद् ध्यायत: स्रष्टुर्वेदा आसंश्चतुर्मुखात् ।

कथं स्रक्ष्याम्यहं लोकान् समवेतान् यथा पुरा ॥ ३४ ॥

kadācid dhyāyataḥ sraṣṭur

vedā āsaṁś catur-mukhāt

kathaṁ srakṣyāmy ahaṁ lokān

samavetān yathā purā

Translation

Once upon a time, when Brahmā was thinking of how to create the worlds as in the past millennium, the four Vedas, which contain all varieties of knowledge, became manifested from his four mouths.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Draws the Lord’s Mercy

  1. 1

    As Brahmā considered how to re-create the worlds, the four Vedas appeared from his four mouths. This knowledge was revealed by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Brahmā’s power comes from devotional service to the Lord. By the Lord’s grace, his sinful desire was overcome without his losing his position as the great Brahmā.

  3. 3

    Material nature is so powerful that it can influence even Brahmā. The Lord, situated in the devotee’s heart, forgives sins committed by chance by one fully engaged in His loving service.

Key points from the purport
  • The Vedas are the source of all knowledge, and they were first revealed to Brahmā by the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead while Brahmā was thinking of re-creating the material world.
  • The example shown by Brahmā only suggests that the power of material nature is so strong that it can act upon everyone, even Brahmā.
  • Brahmā was saved by the mercy of the Lord with a little punishment, but by the grace of the Lord he did not lose his prestige as the great Brahmā.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 3.12.34 quotesSB 11.5.42

The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.42) confirms this as follows: “Any person who is engaged one hundred percent in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, at His lotus feet, is very dear to the Personality of Godhead Hari, and the Lord, being situated in the heart of the devotee, excuses all kinds of sins committed by chance.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. kadācitonce upon a time
  2. dhyāyataḥwhile contemplating
  3. sraṣṭuḥof Brahmā
  4. vedāḥthe Vedic literature
  5. āsanbecame manifested
  6. catuḥ-mukhātfrom the four mouths
  7. katham srakṣyāmihow shall I create
  8. ahammyself
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: “sinful”, “sins”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

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 can remembering the Lord’s mercy help me return sincerely to devotional service?

Practice

Set aside a few undistracted minutes today for 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.

The purport quotesSB 11.5.42

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

Live this todayDevotional Service Draws the Lord’s MercyThis 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 3.12.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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