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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
3.2.73.2.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.2.8

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

दुर्भगो बत लोकोऽयं यदवो नितरामपि ।

ये संवसन्तो न विदुर्हरिं मीना इवोडुपम् ॥ ८ ॥

durbhago bata loko ’yaṁ

yadavo nitarām api

ye saṁvasanto na vidur

hariṁ mīnā ivoḍupam

Translation

This universe with all its planets is most unfortunate. And even more unfortunate are the members of the Yadu dynasty because they could not identify Lord Hari as the Personality of Godhead, any more than the fish could identify the moon.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recognize Kṛṣṇa and Value Service

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa displayed wealth, strength, fame, beauty, knowledge and renunciation. Yet many failed to recognize Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Even constant company with the Lord did not ensure recognition of His supremacy. Like fish mistaking the moon for one of themselves, people regarded Him as merely an extraordinary person.

  3. 3

    Although Uddhava knew Kṛṣṇa’s supreme position, he regretted not properly using his opportunity for devotional service. His sense of misfortune arose from excessive love and separation.

Key points from the purport
  • Uddhava lamented for the unfortunate persons of the world who could not recognize Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa in spite of seeing all His transcendental godly qualities.
  • Uddhava lamented his own fortune also because although he knew Kṛṣṇa to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he could not properly use the opportunity to render devotional service to the Lord.
  • From this Ocean of Milk the moon was born, but the fish in the Milk Ocean could not recognize that the moon was not another fish and was different from them.

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 3.2.8 quotesBG 9.11

They take Him to be one of them, although a little extraordinary in opulence, strength, etc. The Bhagavad-gītā (9.11) confirms such foolish persons to be most unfortunate: avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam.

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. durbhagaḥunfortunate
  2. batacertainly
  3. lokaḥuniverse
  4. ayamthis
  5. yadavaḥthe Yadu dynasty
  6. nitarāmmore specifically
  7. apialso
  8. yethose
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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 service”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

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

    In this verse: “love”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 3.2

    In this verse: “separation”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I using my opportunities to serve Kṛṣṇa, rather than only knowing about Him?

Practice

Reflect on Kṛṣṇa’s six opulences, then take one small opportunity to serve Him today.

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 todayRecognize Kṛṣṇa and Value ServiceThis 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 3.2.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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