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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 19: The Killing of the Demon Hiraṇyākṣa
3.19.323.19.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.19.33

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 3.19.33inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

सूत उवाच

इति कौषारवाख्यातामाश्रुत्य भगवत्कथाम् ।

क्षत्तानन्दं परं लेभे महाभागवतो द्विज ॥ ३३ ॥

sūta uvāca

iti kauṣāravākhyātām

āśrutya bhagavat-kathām

kṣattānandaṁ paraṁ lebhe

mahā-bhāgavato dvija

Translation

Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī continued: My dear brāhmaṇa, Kṣattā [Vidura] the great devotee of the Lord achieved transcendental bliss by hearing the narration of the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead from the authoritative source of the sage Kauṣārava [Maitreya], and he was very pleased.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear with the Ear and Heart

  1. 1

    Vidura experienced transcendental bliss by hearing the Lord’s pastimes from Maitreya, an authoritative source. One becomes an authority by faithfully presenting what one has heard from a bona fide spiritual master.

  2. 2

    To relish the Lord’s pastimes, one must hear with both the ear and the heart. The purport warns against hearing nondevotional or impersonalist interpretations, which obscure the Lord’s personal nature.

  3. 3

    Merely acquiring the qualifications of a brāhmaṇa is not perfection. Perfection is attained by hearing the Lord’s pastimes and activities from a bona fide source.

Key points from the purport
  • If anyone wants to derive transcendental pleasure by hearing the pastimes of the Lord, he must hear from the authoritative source, as explained here.
  • It is also stated in the Bhāgavatam that simply by hearing from an authoritative source, with the ear and the heart, one can relish the pastimes of the Lord; otherwise it is not possible.
  • Perfection is attained when one hears the pastimes and activities of the Lord from a bona fide source.

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 19: The Killing of the Demon Hiraṇyākṣa

Lord Varāha defeats Hiraṇyākṣa and returns to His abode amid the demigods’ praises.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.19
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sūtaḥSūta Gosvāmī
  2. uvācasaid
  3. itithus
  4. kauṣāravafrom Maitreya (son of Kuṣāru)
  5. ākhyātāmtold
  6. āśrutyahaving heard
  7. bhagavat-kathāmthe narration about the Lord
  8. kṣattāVidura
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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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.19

    In this verse: “hearing”, “narration”, “heard”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.19

    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

Am I choosing a faithful devotional source and giving it my heartfelt attention?

Practice

Read this translation and purport slowly for five minutes, setting aside distractions.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear with the Ear and HeartThis 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 3.19.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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