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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
3.14.483.14.50

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.14.49

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

अलम्पट: शीलधरो गुणाकरो

हृष्ट: परर्द्ध्या व्यथितो दु:खितेषु ।

अभूतशत्रुर्जगत: शोकहर्ता

नैदाघिकं तापमिवोडुराज: ॥ ४९ ॥

alampaṭaḥ śīla-dharo guṇākaro

hṛṣṭaḥ pararddhyā vyathito duḥkhiteṣu

abhūta-śatrur jagataḥ śoka-hartā

naidāghikaṁ tāpam ivoḍurājaḥ

Translation

He will be a virtuously qualified reservoir of all good qualities; he will be jolly and happy in others’ happiness, distressed in others’ distress, and will have no enemies. He will be a destroyer of the lamentation of all the universes, like the pleasant moon after the summer sun.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

A Pure Devotee Relieves Others’ Suffering

  1. 1

    Prahlāda Mahārāja possessed all good qualities from childhood. Though emperor of the world, he was not given to uncontrolled sensual enjoyment.

  2. 2

    A pure devotee is happy in others’ happiness and distressed in their distress. He is always eager to lessen the miseries of suffering humanity.

  3. 3

    The greatest misery of a living entity is forgetfulness of Kṛṣṇa. A pure devotee therefore tries to awaken everyone’s Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the remedy for all miseries.

Key points from the purport
  • Prahlāda Mahārāja, the exemplary devotee of the Lord, had all the good qualities humanly possible.
  • Beginning from his childhood he was the reservoir of all good qualities.
  • A pure devotee, therefore, always tries to evoke everyone’s Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. alampaṭaḥvirtuous
  2. śīla-dharaḥqualified
  3. guṇa-ākaraḥreservoir of all good qualities
  4. hṛṣṭaḥjolly
  5. para-ṛddhyāby others’ happiness
  6. vyathitaḥdistressed
  7. duḥkhiteṣuin others’ unhappiness
  8. abhūta-śatruḥwithout enemies
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.14

    In this verse: “distressed”, “suffering”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 3.14

    In this verse: “lamentation”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

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 sincerely rejoice in others’ happiness and care about their spiritual well-being?

Practice

Share one encouraging thought about remembering Kṛṣṇa with someone who welcomes it.

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 todayA Pure Devotee Relieves Others’ SufferingThis 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 3.14.49? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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