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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
3.14.283.14.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.14.29

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

ब्रह्मादयो यत्कृतसेतुपाला

यत्कारणं विश्वमिदं च माया ।

आज्ञाकरी यस्य पिशाचचर्या

अहो विभूम्नश्चरितं विडम्बनम् ॥ २९ ॥

brahmādayo yat-kṛta-setu-pālā

yat-kāraṇaṁ viśvam idaṁ ca māyā

ājñā-karī yasya piśāca-caryā

aho vibhūmnaś caritaṁ viḍambanam

Translation

Demigods like Brahmā also follow the religious rites observed by him. He is the controller of the material energy, which causes the creation of the material world. He is great, and therefore his devilish characteristics are simply imitation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow Śiva’s Detachment, Not Extraordinary Acts

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva is the husband of Durgā, the personified material energy, and is its controller. Demigods such as Brahmā follow the religious rites he observes.

  2. 2

    He represents the Supreme Lord as the incarnation of the mode of ignorance. The purport describes him as identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead in his role as His representative.

  3. 3

    Śiva’s renunciation of material enjoyment is an ideal example to follow. We should learn material detachment from him, not imitate uncommon acts such as drinking poison.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śiva is the husband of Durgā, the controller of the material energy.
  • He is very great, and his renunciation of all material enjoyment is an ideal example of how one should be materially unattached.
  • One should therefore follow in his footsteps and be unattached to matter, not imitate his uncommon acts like drinking poison.

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. brahma-ādayaḥdemigods like Brahmā
  2. yatwhose
  3. kṛtaactivities
  4. setureligious rites
  5. pālāḥobservers
  6. yatone who is
  7. kāraṇamthe origin of
  8. viśvamthe universe
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religious”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • 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

Am I following the principle of detachment, or being attracted to extraordinary outward acts?

Practice

Forgo one unnecessary purchase or indulgence today as a small step toward material detachment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFollow Śiva’s Detachment, Not Extraordinary ActsThis 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.

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