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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
3.12.33.12.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.12.4

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

सनकं च सनन्दं च सनातनमथात्मभू: ।

सनत्कुमारं च मुनीन्निष्क्रियानूर्ध्वरेतस: ॥ ४ ॥

sanakaṁ ca sanandaṁ ca

sanātanam athātmabhūḥ

sanat-kumāraṁ ca munīn

niṣkriyān ūrdhva-retasaḥ

Translation

In the beginning, Brahmā created four great sages named Sanaka, Sananda, Sanātana and Sanat-kumāra. All of them were unwilling to adopt materialistic activities because they were highly elevated due to their semen’s flowing upwards.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Advancement Needs Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Brahmā created Sanaka, Sananda, Sanātana and Sanat-kumāra, who were unwilling to adopt materialistic activities.

  2. 2

    He entrusted the sages with four principles of spiritual advancement: sāṅkhya, yoga, vairāgya and tapas. These concern analytical study, liberation from bondage, detachment and voluntary austerity.

  3. 3

    Their spiritual tradition advanced bhakti, and all these sages became great devotees. Without devotional service to the Personality of Godhead, no activity of spiritual value can succeed.

Key points from the purport
  • Although Brahmā created the principles of nescience as a matter of necessity for those living entities who were destined to ignorance by the will of the Lord, he was not satisfied in performing such a thankless task.
  • Brahmā created the four great sages Sanaka, Sananda, Sanātana and Sanat to entrust them with these four principles of spiritual advancement, and they inaugurated their own spiritual party, or sampradāya, known as the Kumāra sampradāya, or later on as the Nimbārka sampradāya, for the advancement of bhakti.
  • All of these great sages became great devotees, for without devotional service to the Personality of Godhead one cannot achieve success in any activity of spiritual value.

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. sanakamSanaka
  2. caalso
  3. sanandamSananda
  4. caand
  5. sanātanamSanātana
  6. athathereafter
  7. ātma-bhūḥBrahmā, who is self-born
  8. sanat-kumāramSanat-kumāra
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: “devotional service”, “devotees”, “bhakti”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “materialistic”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “detachment”, “vairāgya”

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

Is my spiritual effort directed toward devotional service, rather than achievement alone?

Practice

Set aside one small material enjoyment today and use that time for devotional service to the Personality of Godhead.

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 todaySpiritual Advancement Needs Devotional 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 3.12.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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