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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 2: Remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa

3.2.11 3.2.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.2.12

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Uddhavasince 3.2.7inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitUddhava → Vidura

यन्मर्त्यलीलौपयिकं स्वयोग-

मायाबलं दर्शयता गृहीतम् ।

विस्मापनं स्वस्य च सौभगर्द्धे:

परं पदं भूषणभूषणाङ्गम् ॥ १२ ॥

yan martya-līlaupayikaṁ sva-yoga-

māyā-balaṁ darśayatā gṛhītam

vismāpanaṁ svasya ca saubhagarddheḥ

paraṁ padaṁ bhūṣaṇa-bhūṣaṇāṅgam

Translation

The Lord appeared in the mortal world by His internal potency, yoga-māyā. He came in His eternal form, which is just suitable for His pastimes. These pastimes were wonderful for everyone, even for those proud of their own opulence, including the Lord Himself in His form as the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha. Thus His [Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s] transcendental body is the ornament of all ornaments.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Eternal Form and Unequaled Opulence

1
Kṛṣṇa appeared through His internal potency, yoga-māyā, in His eternal form suited to His pastimes. Though He seemed human, no one could equal Him in wealth, strength, fame, beauty, knowledge or renunciation.
2
The Lord’s pastimes never stop; they are sometimes visible and sometimes invisible to our limited vision. His disappearance means that He passes beyond our sight.
3
His pastimes in the mortal world show mercy even to conditioned souls. His transcendental body is the ornament of all ornaments, and His pastimes are wonderful even to the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha.

Key points from the purport

When Lord Kṛṣṇa was within this universe, He seemed to be a human being because He appeared in a manner just suitable for His pastimes in the mortal world.
It should not be misunderstood that His transcendental body, which is just suitable for the pastimes in the mortal world, is in any way inferior to His different expansions in the Vaikuṇṭhalokas.
His opulence was so superexcellent that His pastimes were adored even by the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha, who is not different from Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself.

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· 2

Quoted in the purport ofSB 10.90.47

Its limbs were so beautiful that they increased the beauty of the ornaments worn on different parts of His body.”

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 21.100

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.2.12) is stated in a conversation between Vidura and Uddhava.

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

yatHis eternal form which
martyamortal world
līlā-upayikamjust suitable for the pastimes
sva-yoga-māyā-balampotency of the internal energy
darśayatāfor manifestation
gṛhītamdiscovered
vismāpanamwonderful
svasyaof His own

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
Dainya · Humility
Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 3.2
In this verse: “proud”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.2
In this verse: “wealth”
Kṛpā · Divine mercy
Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.2
In this verse: “mercy”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does remembering Kṛṣṇa’s unequaled qualities help me loosen pride in my own abilities or possessions?

Practice

Choose one of Kṛṣṇa’s six opulences and spend a minute reflecting on how no one equals Him in it.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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 3.2's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Eternal Form and Unequaled OpulenceThis 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 3.2.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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