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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
3.2.43.2.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.2.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 3.2.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

पुलकोद्‍‌भिन्नसर्वाङ्गो मुञ्चन्मीलद्‍दृशा शुच: ।

पूर्णार्थो लक्षितस्तेन स्‍नेहप्रसरसंप्लुत: ॥ ५ ॥

pulakodbhinna-sarvāṅgo

muñcan mīlad-dṛśā śucaḥ

pūrṇārtho lakṣitas tena

sneha-prasara-samplutaḥ

Translation

It was so observed by Vidura that Uddhava had all the transcendental bodily changes due to total ecstasy, and he was trying to wipe away tears of separation from his eyes. Thus Vidura could understand that Uddhava had completely assimilated extensive love for the Lord.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Love Grows Through Steady Devotional Practice

  1. 1

    Vidura, an experienced devotee, recognized Uddhava’s perfected love of Godhead. Genuine ecstatic bodily changes arise from the spiritual plane, not from artificial practice.

  2. 2

    Devotional service develops from following regulative principles to steady realization and finally ecstasy. Hearing, chanting and remembering begin this process.

  3. 3

    Regular hearing of the Lord’s glories and pastimes washes impurities from the heart. As the heart becomes cleansed, steadiness, faith, taste and realization gradually develop.

Key points from the purport
  • The symptoms of the highest order of devotional life were observed by Vidura, an experienced devotee of the Lord, and he confirmed Uddhava’s perfectional stage of love of Godhead.
  • The first stage is that of following the regulative principles prescribed in the codes of devotional service, the second stage is that of assimilation and realization of the steady condition of devotional service, and the last stage is that of ecstasy symptomized by transcendental bodily expression.
  • The more one is cleansed of impurities, the more one becomes fixed in devotional service.

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.

This verse is a turning point of the arc: Uddhava's tears of separation.

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. pulaka-udbhinnabodily changes of transcendental ecstasy
  2. sarva-aṅgaḥevery part of the body
  3. muñcansmearing
  4. mīlatopening
  5. dṛśāby the eyes
  6. śucaḥtears of grief
  7. pūrṇa-arthaḥcomplete achievement
  8. lakṣitaḥthus observed
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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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

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

    In this verse: “love”, “ecstasy”, “ecstatic”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I giving more attention to regular devotional practice than to outward signs of emotion?

Practice

Spend five minutes hearing the Lord’s glories or pastimes, focusing on attentive hearing rather than producing a feeling.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLove Grows Through Steady Devotional PracticeThis 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 3.2.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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