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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 14: Pregnancy of Diti in the Evening
3.14.303.14.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.14.31

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.14.30inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

स विदित्वाथ भार्यायास्तं निर्बन्धं विकर्मणि ।

नत्वा दिष्टाय रहसि तयाथोपविवेश हि ॥ ३१ ॥

sa viditvātha bhāryāyās

taṁ nirbandhaṁ vikarmaṇi

natvā diṣṭāya rahasi

tayāthopaviveśa hi

Translation

Understanding his wife’s purpose, he was obliged to perform the forbidden act, and thus after offering his obeisances unto worshipable fate, he lay with her in a secluded place.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Gives Strength Against Temptation

  1. 1

    Kaśyapa knew the act was forbidden and would displease Lord Śiva. Yet, feeling too obligated to his wife, he yielded and offered obeisances unto fate.

  2. 2

    Although greatly learned in the rules of systematic life, Kaśyapa could not protect himself from sexual desire. Learning alone did not give him sufficient protection.

  3. 3

    Ṭhākura Haridāsa resisted temptation through his perfection in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, not through high birth. He chanted the Lord’s holy name three hundred thousand times daily.

Key points from the purport
  • It appears from the talks of Kaśyapa with his wife that he was a worshiper of Lord Śiva, and although he knew that Lord Śiva would not be pleased with him for such a forbidden act, he was obliged to act by his wife’s desire, and thus he offered his obeisances unto fate.
  • Kaśyapa Muni was greatly learned and enlightened, and he knew all the rules and regulations of systematic life, yet he failed to protect himself from the attack of sex desire.
  • Ṭhākura Haridāsa was not born of a brāhmaṇa family, nor was he himself a brāhmaṇa, yet he could protect himself from such an attack due to his being Kṛṣṇa conscious.

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. saḥhe
  2. viditvāunderstanding
  3. athathereupon
  4. bhāryāyāḥof the wife
  5. tamthat
  6. nirbandhamobstinacy
  7. vikarmaṇiin the forbidden act
  8. natvāoffering obeisances
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshipable”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.14

    In this verse: “chanted”, “holy name”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.14

    In this verse: “understanding”

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 can I strengthen my Kṛṣṇa consciousness rather than rely only on knowing the rules?

Practice

Set aside a few quiet minutes today to chant the holy name of Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Consciousness Gives Strength Against TemptationThis 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 3.14.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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