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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 20: Conversation Between Maitreya and Vidura
3.20.193.20.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.20.20

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.20.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

क्षुत्तृड्भ्यामुपसृष्टास्ते तं जग्धुमभिदुद्रुवु: ।

मा रक्षतैनं जक्षध्वमित्यूचु: क्षुत्तृडर्दिता: ॥ २० ॥

kṣut-tṛḍbhyām upasṛṣṭās te

taṁ jagdhum abhidudruvuḥ

mā rakṣatainaṁ jakṣadhvam

ity ūcuḥ kṣut-tṛḍ-arditāḥ

Translation

Overpowered by hunger and thirst, they ran to devour Brahmā from all sides and cried, “Spare him not! Eat him up!”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Overpowering Appetite Leads to Cruelty

  1. 1

    Overpowered by hunger and thirst, they rushed toward Brahmā from all sides to devour him.

  2. 2

    Their cries, “Spare him not! Eat him up!” reveal their violent intent.

  3. 3

    The purport describes representatives of this mentality taking pleasure in killing and eating even their own grandfathers. It presents this behavior as uncivilized cruelty.

Key points from the purport
  • The representatives of the Yakṣas and Rākṣasas still exist in some countries of the world.
  • It is understood that such uncivilized men take pleasure in killing their own grandfathers and holding a “love feast” by roasting the bodies.

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

Longing and service → Preparedness. Family devotion turns toward higher spiritual fulfillment.

Chapters 20–24 of Canto 3: Kardama, Devahūti, family and renunciation. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 20: Conversation Between Maitreya and Vidura

Questions about Manu lead to further accounts of Brahmā’s creation of demigods, demons, and other beings.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.20
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kṣut-tṛḍbhyāmby hunger and thirst
  2. upasṛṣṭāḥwere overcome
  3. tethe demons (Yakṣas and Rākṣasas)
  4. tamLord Brahmā
  5. jagdhumto eat
  6. abhidudruvuḥran toward
  7. mādo not
  8. rakṣataspare
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 3.20

    In this verse: “cried”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How do I respond when a strong appetite begins to overpower my consideration for others?

Practice

When hunger or thirst makes you impatient today, pause before speaking and choose words that do not hurt anyone.

Live this todayOverpowering Appetite Leads to CrueltyThis 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 3.20.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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