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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
3.14.473.14.49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.14.48

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The learned Kaśyapasince 3.14.44-45inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

स वै महाभागवतो महात्मा

महानुभावो महतां महिष्ठ: ।

प्रवृद्धभक्त्या ह्यनुभाविताशये

निवेश्य वैकुण्ठमिमं विहास्यति ॥ ४८ ॥

sa vai mahā-bhāgavato mahātmā

mahānubhāvo mahatāṁ mahiṣṭhaḥ

pravṛddha-bhaktyā hy anubhāvitāśaye

niveśya vaikuṇṭham imaṁ vihāsyati

Translation

That topmost devotee of the Lord will have expanded intelligence and expanded influence and will be the greatest of the great souls. Due to matured devotional service, he will certainly be situated in transcendental ecstasy and will enter the spiritual sky after quitting this material world.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hearing and Chanting Deepen Devotion

  1. 1

    Mature devotional service would place this topmost devotee in transcendental ecstasy. After leaving the material world, he would enter the spiritual sky.

  2. 2

    The purport describes sthāyi-bhāva as continual perfect love of Godhead and anubhāva as its expression in a particular transcendental relationship. Mahābhāva is visible among the Lord’s personal pleasure potencies.

  3. 3

    Prahlāda Mahārāja would constantly meditate on the Lord and recount His activities. Chanting and hearing the Lord’s holy name make such meditation more convenient and are especially recommended in this Age of Kali.

Key points from the purport
  • There are three stages of transcendental development in devotional service, which are technically called sthāyi-bhāva, anubhāva and mahābhāva.
  • Continual perfect love of Godhead is called sthāyi-bhāva, and when it is performed in a particular type of transcendental relationship it is called anubhāva.
  • Because he would constantly remain in meditation, he would easily transfer himself to the spiritual world after quitting his material body.

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. vaicertainly
  3. mahā-bhāgavataḥthe topmost devotee
  4. mahā-ātmāexpanded intelligence
  5. mahā-anubhāvaḥexpanded influence
  6. mahatāmof the great souls
  7. mahiṣṭhaḥthe greatest
  8. pravṛddhawell matured
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 3.14

    In this verse: “ecstasy”, “love”

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 give hearing and chanting the Lord’s holy name a regular place in my day?

Practice

Set aside two minutes today to chant the Lord’s holy name and listen attentively.

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 todayHearing and Chanting Deepen DevotionThis 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 3.14.48? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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