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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
3.2.313.2.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.2.32

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

अयाजयद्गोसवेन गोपराजं द्विजोत्तमै: ।

वित्तस्य चोरुभारस्य चिकीर्षन् सद्वय‍यं विभु: ॥ ३२ ॥

ayājayad go-savena

gopa-rājaṁ dvijottamaiḥ

vittasya coru-bhārasya

cikīrṣan sad-vyayaṁ vibhuḥ

Translation

The Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, desired to utilize the opulent financial strength of Mahārāja Nanda for worship of the cows, and also He wanted to give a lesson to Indra, the King of heaven. Thus He advised His father to perform worship of go, or the pasturing land and the cows, with the help of learned brāhmaṇas.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Your Work to Satisfy Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the teacher of everyone, instructed His father to use his wealth for worship of the cows and pasturing land. He also wanted to correct Indra’s pride.

  2. 2

    The demigods are servants of the Supreme Lord who manage universal affairs. Those devoted to the Supreme Personality of Godhead have no need to appease them for material gains.

  3. 3

    One should worship the Supreme Lord through all activities and their results. The perfection of any duty is measured by how much it satisfies Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Worship of the demigods by common people is an arrangement for acknowledging the supremacy of the Supreme Lord, but it is not necessary.
  • This happened when Lord Kṛṣṇa was present in the universe, and thus the Lord wanted to give a lesson to the King of heaven, Indra.
  • By this act Lord Kṛṣṇa taught human society, as He has instructed in the Bhagavad-gītā also, that one should worship the Supreme Lord by all acts and by all their results.

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. ayājayatmade to perform
  2. go-savenaby worship of the cows
  3. gopa-rājamthe king of the cowherds
  4. dvija-uttamaiḥby the learned brāhmaṇas
  5. vittasyaof the wealth
  6. caalso
  7. uru-bhārasyagreat opulence
  8. cikīrṣandesiring to act
  9. sat-vyayamproper utilization
  10. vibhuḥthe great
3

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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “nanda”, “father”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How could you measure today’s work by the Lord’s satisfaction rather than material gain alone?

Practice

Choose one duty today and consciously perform it with the intention of satisfying Kṛṣṇa.

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 todayUse Your Work to Satisfy 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 3.2.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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