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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
3.2.223.2.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.2.23

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

अहो बकी यं स्तनकालकूटं

जिघांसयापाययदप्यसाध्वी ।

लेभे गतिं धात्र्युचितां ततोऽन्यं

कं वा दयालुं शरणं व्रजेम ॥ २३ ॥

aho bakī yaṁ stana-kāla-kūṭaṁ

jighāṁsayāpāyayad apy asādhvī

lebhe gatiṁ dhātry-ucitāṁ tato ’nyaṁ

kaṁ vā dayāluṁ śaraṇaṁ vrajema

Translation

Alas, how shall I take shelter of one more merciful than He who granted the position of mother to a she-demon [Pūtanā] although she was unfaithful and she prepared deadly poison to be sucked from her breast?

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Take Shelter of Kṛṣṇa’s Extraordinary Mercy

  1. 1

    Pūtanā offered Kṛṣṇa deadly poison, yet He accepted her motherhood because she acted as though she were an affectionate mother. This reveals His extreme mercy even toward an enemy.

  2. 2

    Playing the part of a baby did not diminish Kṛṣṇa’s supremacy. He is always the same Supreme Personality of Godhead, and no living creature can become His equal.

  3. 3

    The Lord accepts the least qualification of a living being and awards the highest reward. Uddhava therefore asks who else could be the ultimate shelter.

Key points from the purport
  • And because she was a demon, it was impossible for her to know that the Supreme Lord, even though playing the part of a baby, was no one less than the same Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa accepted the motherhood of Pūtanā because she pretended to be an affectionate mother, allowing Kṛṣṇa to suck her breast.
  • Therefore, who but the Lord can be the ultimate shelter?

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 ofCC Madhya 22.98

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.2.23).

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. ahoalas
  2. bakīthe she-demon (Pūtanā)
  3. yamwhom
  4. stanaof her breast
  5. kāladeadly
  6. kūṭampoison
  7. jighāṁsayāout of envy
  8. apāyayatnourished
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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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “mother”, “motherhood”, “baby”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “merciful”, “mercy”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “shelter”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Kṛṣṇa’s willingness to accept even the least qualification encourage me to take shelter of Him?

Practice

Offer a brief, sincere prayer asking Kṛṣṇa for shelter in His mercy.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

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 todayTake Shelter of Kṛṣṇa’s Extraordinary MercyOne of the 108 chosen lessons: a practice and a question from this verse

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 3.2.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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