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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
3.2.213.2.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.2.22

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

तत्तस्य कैङ्कर्यमलं भृतान्नो

विग्लापयत्यङ्ग यदुग्रसेनम् ।

तिष्ठन्निषण्णं परमेष्ठिधिष्ण्ये

न्यबोधयद्देव निधारयेति ॥ २२ ॥

tat tasya kaiṅkaryam alaṁ bhṛtān no

viglāpayaty aṅga yad ugrasenam

tiṣṭhan niṣaṇṇaṁ parameṣṭhi-dhiṣṇye

nyabodhayad deva nidhārayeti

Translation

Therefore, O Vidura, does it not pain us, His servitors, when we remember that He [Lord Kṛṣṇa] used to stand before King Ugrasena, who was sitting on the royal throne, and used to submit explanations before him, saying, “O My lord, please let it be known to you”?

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Gentle Conduct Does Not Diminish Supremacy

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa stood before King Ugrasena and respectfully submitted explanations to him. Remembering this humble conduct caused pain to His loving servitors.

  2. 2

    His gentle dealings with elders and affectionate dealings with companions do not bewilder pure devotees like Uddhava. They know that His humanlike behavior does not diminish His supreme position.

  3. 3

    Those who do not know His exalted position belittle Kṛṣṇa as an ordinary person. Pure devotees are not misled by interpretations that fail to recognize Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa’s gentle behavior before His so-called superiors such as His father, grandfather and elder brother, His amiable behavior with His so-called wives, friends and contemporaries, His behavior as a child before His mother Yaśodā, and His naughty dealings with His young girlfriends cannot bewilder a pure devotee like Uddhava.
  • Others, who are not devotees, are bewildered by such behavior of the Lord, who acted just like a human being.
  • Persons with a poor fund of knowledge belittle the Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, not knowing His exalted position as the Lord of everything.

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

The purport of SB 3.2.22 quotesBG 9.11

This bewilderment is explained by the Lord Himself in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.11) as follows: Persons with a poor fund of knowledge belittle the Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, not knowing His exalted position as the Lord of everything.

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. tattherefore
  2. tasyaHis
  3. kaiṅkaryamservice
  4. alamof course
  5. bhṛtānthe servitors
  6. naḥus
  7. viglāpayatigives pain
  8. aṅgaO Vidura
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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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “king”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “companions”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Can I appreciate Kṛṣṇa’s gentleness without mistaking Him for an ordinary person?

Practice

Reread Kṛṣṇa’s respectful words to Ugrasena while remembering that He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGentle Conduct Does Not Diminish SupremacyThis 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.

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