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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 14: Pregnancy of Diti in the Evening
3.14.263.14.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.14.27

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.14.5inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

यस्यानवद्याचरितं मनीषिणो

गृणन्त्यविद्यापटलं बिभित्सव: ।

निरस्तसाम्यातिशयोऽपि यत्स्वयं

पिशाचचर्यामचरद्‍गति: सताम् ॥ २७ ॥

yasyānavadyācaritaṁ manīṣiṇo

gṛṇanty avidyā-paṭalaṁ bibhitsavaḥ

nirasta-sāmyātiśayo ’pi yat svayaṁ

piśāca-caryām acarad gatiḥ satām

Translation

Although no one in the material world is equal to or greater than Lord Śiva, and although his unimpeachable character is followed by great souls to dismantle the mass of nescience, he nevertheless remains as if a devil to give salvation to all devotees of the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Learn Detachment Beyond Outward Appearance

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva’s outwardly frightening ways are not abominable. They teach sincere devotees of the Lord detachment from material enjoyment.

  2. 2

    He is Mahādeva, the greatest of all demigods, and is almost equal with Lord Viṣṇu. Great souls follow his unimpeachable character to overcome ignorance.

  3. 3

    Although Śiva associates with Māyā, Durgā, and governs beings in the mode of ignorance, he is not affected by that association. He remains above the reactions of the three modes of material nature.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śiva’s uncivilized, devilish characteristics are never abominable because he teaches the sincere devotees of the Lord how to practice detachment from material enjoyment.
  • He is called Mahādeva, or the greatest of all demigods, and no one is equal to or greater than him in the material world.
  • Although he always associates with Māyā, Durgā, he is above the reactionary stage of the three modes of material nature, and although he is in charge of devilish characters in the mode of ignorance, he is not affected by such association.

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. yasyawhose
  2. anavadyaunimpeachable
  3. ācaritamcharacter
  4. manīṣiṇaḥgreat sages
  5. gṛṇantifollow
  6. avidyānescience
  7. paṭalammass
  8. bibhitsavaḥdesiring to dismantle
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “māyā”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.14

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 3.14

    In this verse: “detachment”

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

Do I look beyond outward appearance to recognize genuine detachment and devotion?

Practice

Set aside one unnecessary material comfort today as a small exercise in detachment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLearn Detachment Beyond Outward AppearanceThis 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 3.14.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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