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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 2: Remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa
3.2.143.2.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.2.15

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 3.2.7inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitUddhava → Vidura

स्वशान्तरूपेष्वितरै: स्वरूपै-

रभ्यर्द्यमानेष्वनुकम्पितात्मा ।

परावरेशो महदंशयुक्तो

ह्यजोऽपि जातो भगवान् यथाग्नि: ॥ १५ ॥

sva-śānta-rūpeṣv itaraiḥ sva-rūpair

abhyardyamāneṣv anukampitātmā

parāvareśo mahad-aṁśa-yukto

hy ajo ’pi jāto bhagavān yathāgniḥ

Translation

The Personality of Godhead, the all-compassionate controller of both the spiritual and material creations, is unborn, but when there is friction between His peaceful devotees and persons who are in the material modes of nature, He takes birth just like fire, accompanied by the mahat-tattva.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Compassionately Protects Peaceful Devotees

  1. 1

    Devotees are peaceful because they do not hanker for material possessions or spiritual salvation. They want only to serve the Lord wherever He desires.

  2. 2

    When peaceful devotees are harassed, the all-compassionate Lord appears for their sake. Although unborn, He manifests Himself with His plenary portions.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead. Nārāyaṇa and all other incarnations accompany Him to carry out different parts of His pastimes.

Key points from the purport
  • The devotees of the Lord are by nature peaceful because they have no material hankering.
  • Karmīs want material possessions, jñānīs and yogīs want spiritual possessions, but devotees do not want any material or spiritual assets.
  • The Lord is everywhere, in both the material and spiritual domains, and He appears for the sake of His devotees when there is friction between His devotee and the nondevotee.

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

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. sva-śānta-rūpeṣuunto the peaceful devotees of the Lord
  2. itaraiḥothers, nondevotees
  3. sva-rūpaiḥaccording to their own modes of nature
  4. abhyardyamāneṣubeing harassed by
  5. anukampita-ātmāthe all-compassionate Lord
  6. para-avaraspiritual and material
  7. īśaḥcontroller
  8. mahat-aṁśa-yuktaḥaccompanied by the plenary portion of mahat-tattva
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “material”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking something for myself through devotion, or learning to serve wherever the Lord desires?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer today asking only for the opportunity to serve the Lord, rather than for possessions or liberation.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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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 todayThe Lord Compassionately Protects Peaceful DevoteesThis 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 3.2.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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