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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.2.11

Who is speaking and story frame

प्रदर्श्यातप्ततपसामवितृप्तद‍ृशां नृणाम् ।

आदायान्तरधाद्यस्तु स्वबिम्बं लोकलोचनम् ॥ ११ ॥

pradarśyātapta-tapasām

avitṛpta-dṛśāṁ nṛṇām

ādāyāntar adhād yas tu

sva-bimbaṁ loka-locanam

Translation

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who manifested His eternal form before the vision of all on the earth, performed His disappearance by removing His form from the sight of those who were unable to see Him [as He is] due to not executing required penance.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

True Satisfaction Comes Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    A spirit soul cannot become satisfied through sense pleasure, just as a fish cannot be happy on land. Happiness is found only in association with the Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The Lord displays His transcendental pastimes to attract conditioned souls back to Godhead. Truthfulness, control of the mind and senses, and forbearance help prepare one for pure devotional service.

  3. 3

    The Lord disappeared in His original eternal form; He did not leave His body behind. Those who saw Him as He is could return with Him to His kingdom.

Key points from the purport
  • When the Lord was present, persons who were able to satisfy their material hankerings by seeing Him in true perspective were thus able to go back with Him to His kingdom.
  • But those persons who were unable to see the Lord as He is remained attached to material hankerings and were not able to go back home, back to Godhead.
  • When the Lord passed beyond the vision of all, He did so in His original eternal form, as stated in this verse.

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

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.31.13

As stated by Śrī Uddhava in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.2.11), ādāyāntar adhād yas tu sva-bimbaṁ loka-locanam: “Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who manifested His eternal form before the vision of all on the earth, performed His disappearance by removing His form from the sight of those who are unable to see Him [as He is] due to not executing the required penance.”

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

Separation → Devotional remembrance. Uddhava's tears and silence make remembrance emotionally immediate.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 3: Vidura meets Uddhava and hears of Kṛṣṇa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: Remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa

Uddhava remembers Kṛṣṇa in devotional ecstasy and recounts His disappearance, supremacy, and childhood activities.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.2
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pradarśyaby exhibiting
  2. ataptawithout undergoing
  3. tapasāmpenances
  4. avitṛpta-dṛśāmwithout fulfillment of vision
  5. nṛṇāmof persons
  6. ādāyataking
  7. antaḥdisappearance
  8. adhātperformed
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “kingdom”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “spirit soul”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where am I seeking satisfaction that cannot fulfill the spirit soul?

Practice

Practice truthfulness in one conversation today, remembering its purpose of preparing you for pure devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTrue Satisfaction Comes Through Devotional ServiceThis 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 3.2.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.