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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
3.2.203.2.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.2.21

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 3.2.7inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitUddhava → Vidura

स्वयं त्वसाम्यातिशयस्त्र्यधीश:

स्वाराज्यलक्ष्म्याप्तसमस्तकाम: ।

बलिं हरद्‍‌भिश्चिरलोकपालै:

किरीटकोट्येडितपादपीठ: ॥ २१ ॥

svayaṁ tv asāmyātiśayas tryadhīśaḥ

svārājya-lakṣmy-āpta-samasta-kāmaḥ

baliṁ haradbhiś cira-loka-pālaiḥ

kirīṭa-koṭyeḍita-pāda-pīṭhaḥ

Translation

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Lord of all kinds of threes and is independently supreme by achievement of all kinds of fortune. He is worshiped by the eternal maintainers of the creation, who offer Him the paraphernalia of worship by touching their millions of helmets to His feet.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

No One Equals or Surpasses Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is mild and merciful, yet He is the Supreme Lord of the three worlds, the three qualities of material nature and the three puruṣas.

  2. 2

    He completely possesses wealth, strength, fame, beauty, knowledge and renunciation. No one is equal to or greater than Him.

  3. 3

    Even the transcendental controllers surrender to Him and offer worship. Everyone, wherever situated, has the duty to surrender completely unto Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is so mild and merciful, as described in the above verses, and yet He is the Lord of all kinds of threes.
  • He is the Lord of the three principal potencies, namely cit-śakti, māyā-śakti and taṭasthā-śakti, and He is the complete master of six kinds of fortune — wealth, strength, fame, beauty, knowledge and renunciation.
  • It is not wonderful, therefore, that all the transcendental controllers surrender to Him and make all offerings of worship.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. svayamHimself
  2. tubut
  3. asāmyaunique
  4. atiśayaḥgreater
  5. tri-adhīśaḥLord of the three
  6. svārājyaindependent supremacy
  7. lakṣmīfortune
  8. āptaachieved
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiped”, “worship”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “duty”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does recognizing Kṛṣṇa’s independent supremacy mean for my willingness to surrender?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer acknowledging Kṛṣṇa’s supremacy and your wish to surrender to Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNo One Equals or Surpasses KṛṣṇaThis 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 3.2.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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