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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 13: The Appearance of Lord Varāha
3.13.33.13.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.13.4

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vidurasince 3.13.2inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

श्रुतस्य पुंसां सुचिरश्रमस्य

नन्वञ्जसा सूरिभिरीडितोऽर्थ: ।

तत्तद्गुणानुश्रवणं मुकुन्द-

पादारविन्द हृदयेषु येषाम् ॥ ४ ॥

śrutasya puṁsāṁ sucira-śramasya

nanv añjasā sūribhir īḍito ’rthaḥ

tat-tad-guṇānuśravaṇaṁ mukunda-

pādāravindaṁ hṛdayeṣu yeṣām

Translation

Persons who hear from a spiritual master with great labor and for a long time must hear from the mouths of pure devotees about the character and activities of pure devotees. Pure devotees always think within their hearts of the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, who awards His devotees liberation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear Pure Devotees Describe Pure Devotees

  1. 1

    Students trained by hearing from a bona fide spiritual master must hear both about the Lord and about His pure devotees.

  2. 2

    The Lord is within everyone’s heart, but material illusion hides His presence from their awareness. Pure devotees realize His presence and constantly remember His lotus feet.

  3. 3

    The purport describes worship of the devotee as more potent than worship of the Lord. Students should hear about pure devotees from other pure devotees, who can truly explain them.

Key points from the purport
  • Not only must they hear about the activities of the Lord, but they must also hear about the transcendental qualities of the devotees who are constantly thinking of the lotus feet of the Lord within their hearts.
  • The devotees, however, realize the presence of the Lord, and therefore they can always see the lotus feet of the Lord within their hearts.
  • It is therefore the duty of the transcendental students to hear of pure devotees, as explained by similar devotees of the Lord, because one cannot explain about the Lord or His devotee unless one happens to be a pure devotee himself.

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

Threat and anger → Rescue and wonder. Divine protection appears amid cosmic confrontation.

Chapters 13–19 of Canto 3: Varāha, Jaya and Vijaya, Hiraṇyākṣa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 13: The Appearance of Lord Varāha

Lord Varāha appears from Brahmā’s nose, lifts the submerged earth, and receives the sages’ prayers.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrutasyaof persons who are in the process of hearing
  2. puṁsāmof such persons
  3. sucirafor a long time
  4. śramasyalaboring very hard
  5. nanucertainly
  6. añjasāelaborately
  7. sūribhiḥby pure devotees
  8. īḍitaḥexplained by
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “devotees”, “worship”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “illusion”, “material”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “hearing”

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 much attention do I give to hearing about the qualities of pure devotees?

Practice

Reread the purport and note one quality of a pure devotee to reflect on today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear Pure Devotees Describe Pure DevoteesThis 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 3.13.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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