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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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
3.14.373.14.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.14.38

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The learned Kaśyapasince 3.14.38inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

कश्यप उवाच

अप्रायत्यादात्मनस्ते दोषान्मौहूर्तिकादुत ।

मन्निदेशातिचारेण देवानां चातिहेलनात् ॥ ३८ ॥

kaśyapa uvāca

aprāyatyād ātmanas te

doṣān mauhūrtikād uta

man-nideśāticāreṇa

devānāṁ cātihelanāt

Translation

The learned Kaśyapa said: Because of your mind’s being polluted, because of defilement of the particular time, because of your negligence of my directions, and because of your being apathetic to the demigods, everything was inauspicious.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Religious Discipline and Chanting Support Family Life

  1. 1

    Kaśyapa identified four faults: Diti’s polluted mind, the unsuitable time, neglect of his directions, and disregard for the demigods. Good intentions did not remove these faults.

  2. 2

    The purport teaches that sexual intercourse according to religious principles represents Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Birth in a brāhmaṇa family does not by itself make a child a brāhmaṇa.

  3. 3

    Even when discipline has been neglected, the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement offers upliftment through chanting God’s holy name. The purport calls this Lord Caitanya’s unique contribution to human society.

Key points from the purport
  • The conditions for having good progeny in society are that the husband should be disciplined in religious and regulative principles and the wife should be faithful to the husband.
  • In Bhagavad-gītā (7.11) it is said that sexual intercourse according to religious principles is a representation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
  • Before engaging in sexual intercourse, both the husband and the wife must consider their mental condition, the particular time, the husband’s direction, and obedience to the demigods.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 3.14.38 quotesBG 7.11

In Bhagavad-gītā (7.11) it is said that sexual intercourse according to religious principles is a representation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. kaśyapaḥ uvācathe learned brāhmaṇa Kaśyapa said
  2. aprāyatyātbecause of the pollution
  3. ātmanaḥof the mind
  4. teyour
  5. doṣātbecause of defilement
  6. mauhūrtikātin terms of the moment
  7. utaalso
  8. matmy
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.14

    In this verse: “child”

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 supporting my hopes for good results with disciplined actions?

Practice

Take a few minutes today to chant God’s holy name with attention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.14's connections

Live this todayReligious Discipline and Chanting Support Family LifeThis 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 3.14.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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