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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 20: Conversation Between Maitreya and Vidura
3.20.223.20.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.20.23

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
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

देवोऽदेवाञ्जघनत: सृजति स्मातिलोलुपान् ।

त

एनं लोलुपतया मैथुनायाभिपेदिरे ॥ २३ ॥

devo ’devāñ jaghanataḥ

sṛjati smātilolupān

ta enaṁ lolupatayā

maithunāyābhipedire

Translation

Lord Brahmā then gave birth to the demons from his buttocks, and they were very fond of sex. Because they were too lustful, they approached him for copulation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Restraint Helps Us Rise Above Lust

  1. 1

    Brahmā gave birth to demons who were excessively fond of sex. Their lust led them to approach him for copulation.

  2. 2

    The purport describes sex life as the background of material existence.

  3. 3

    It teaches that freedom from sexual desire raises one toward the level of the demigods, while increasing absorption in sexual enjoyment leads toward demoniac life.

Key points from the purport
  • Sex life is the background of material existence.
  • Here also it is repeated that demons are very fond of sex life.
  • The more one is free from the desire for sex, the more he is promoted to the level of the demigods; the more one is inclined to enjoy sex, the more he is degraded to the level of demoniac life.

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. devaḥLord Brahmā
  2. adevāndemons
  3. jaghanataḥfrom his buttocks
  4. sṛjati smagave birth
  5. ati-lolupānexcessively fond of sex
  6. tethey
  7. enamLord Brahmā
  8. lolupatayāwith lust
  9. maithunāyafor copulation
  10. abhipedireapproached
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.20

    In this verse: “lustful”, “lust”, “material”

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

Where could greater restraint help me become less governed by desire?

Practice

Avoid one source of stimulation today that you know strengthens sexual preoccupation.

Live this todayRestraint Helps Us Rise Above LustThis 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.

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