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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.14.17

Who is speaking and story frame

एष तेऽहं विधास्यामि प्रियं भीरु यदिच्छसि ।

तस्या: कामं न क: कुर्यात्सिद्धिस्त्रैवर्गिक यत: ॥ १७ ॥

eṣa te ’haṁ vidhāsyāmi

priyaṁ bhīru yad icchasi

tasyāḥ kāmaṁ na kaḥ kuryāt

siddhis traivargikī yataḥ

Translation

O afflicted one, I shall forthwith gratify whatever desire is dear to you, for who else but you is the source of the three perfections of liberation?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Cooperate for Shared Spiritual Advancement

  1. 1

    The purport identifies the three perfections mentioned here as religiosity, economic development and sense gratification. A faithful wife helps her husband toward ultimate liberation.

  2. 2

    Comfort in household life is meant to enable spiritual activities, not deepen material entanglement. When the husband advances spiritually, his wife shares in that advancement.

  3. 3

    Both boys and girls need training in spiritual duties. The purport describes brahmacarya for boys and chastity for girls as preparation for beneficial cooperation.

Key points from the purport
  • The three perfections of liberation are religiosity, economic development and sense gratification.
  • A faithful wife is supposed to cooperate with her husband in fulfilling all material desires so that he can then become comfortable and execute spiritual activities for the perfection of life.
  • If, however, the husband is progressive in spiritual advancement, the wife undoubtedly shares in his activities, and thus both the wife and the husband profit in spiritual perfection.

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 14: Pregnancy of Diti in the Evening

Diti desires sons, her husband performs a forbidden act, and their sons’ destruction by the Lord is foretold.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.14
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. eṣaḥthis
  2. teyour request
  3. ahamI
  4. vidhāsyāmishall execute
  5. priyamvery dear
  6. bhīruO afflicted one
  7. yatwhat
  8. icchasiyou are desiring
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.14

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “household”, “material”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.14

    In this verse: “religiosity”, “duties”

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

Does my cooperation with others make more room for spiritual advancement?

Practice

Help with one household task today so that someone has time for spiritual activity.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCooperate for Shared Spiritual AdvancementThis 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 3.14.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.