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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.2.4

Who is speaking and story frame

स मुहूर्तमभूत्तूष्णीं कृष्णाङ्‌घ्रि सुधया भृशम् ।

तीव्रेण भक्तियोगेन निमग्न: साधु निर्वृत: ॥ ४ ॥

sa muhūrtam abhūt tūṣṇīṁ

kṛṣṇāṅghri-sudhayā bhṛśam

tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena

nimagnaḥ sādhu nirvṛtaḥ

Translation

For a moment he remained dead silent, and his body did not move. He became absorbed in the nectar of remembering the Lord’s lotus feet in devotional ecstasy, and he appeared to be going increasingly deeper into that ecstasy.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remembering Kṛṣṇa Brings His Presence

  1. 1

    Uddhava remembered the Lord’s lotus feet and his loving service to Him. He felt the same ecstasy he had experienced in the Lord’s presence.

  2. 2

    Because the Lord is absolute, there is no difference between His remembrance and His personal presence.

  3. 3

    Uddhava remained silent and became increasingly absorbed in devotional ecstasy. Such transcendental bodily changes are displayed by highly advanced devotees.

Key points from the purport
  • He appeared to regret that he had forgotten the lotus feet of the Lord.
  • Thus he again remembered the lotus feet of the Lord and remembered all his transcendental loving service unto Him, and by so doing he felt the same ecstasy that he used to feel in the presence of the Lord.
  • Thus Uddhava remained completely silent for a moment, but then he appeared to be going deeper and deeper into ecstasy.

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. saḥUddhava
  2. muhūrtamfor a moment
  3. abhūtbecame
  4. tūṣṇīmdead silent
  5. kṛṣṇa-aṅghrithe lotus feet of the Lord
  6. sudhayāby the nectar
  7. bhṛśamwell matured
  8. tīvreṇaby very strong
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional”, “devotees”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “ecstasy”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does knowing that the Lord is present in His remembrance affect my attention?

Practice

Set aside one quiet minute to remember Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemembering Kṛṣṇa Brings His PresenceThis 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 3.2.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.