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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
3.20.323.20.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.20.33

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 3.20.26inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

वितर्कयन्तो बहुधा तां सन्ध्यां

प्रमदाकृतिम् ।

अभिसम्भाव्य विश्रम्भात्पर्यपृच्छन् कुमेधस: ॥ ३३ ॥

vitarkayanto bahudhā

tāṁ sandhyāṁ pramadākṛtim

abhisambhāvya viśrambhāt

paryapṛcchan kumedhasaḥ

Translation

Indulging in various speculations about the evening twilight, which appeared to them endowed with the form of a young woman, the wicked-minded asuras treated her with respect and fondly spoke to her as follows.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Speculation Shapes How We See

  1. 1

    The evening twilight appeared to the asuras in the form of a young woman. They indulged in various speculations about her.

  2. 2

    The verse describes the asuras as wicked-minded. Their many thoughts did not amount to clear understanding.

  3. 3

    They treated her with respect and spoke fondly to her. These outward gestures accompanied their speculative understanding.

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. vitarkayantaḥindulging in speculations
  2. bahudhāvarious kinds
  3. tāmher
  4. sandhyāmthe evening twilight
  5. pramadāa young woman
  6. ākṛtimin the form of
  7. abhisambhāvyatreating with great respect
  8. viśrambhātfondly
  9. paryapṛcchanquestioned
  10. ku-medhasaḥwicked-minded
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.20

    In this verse: “understanding”

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 might I be treating my own speculation as understanding?

Practice

Identify one assumption you made today and distinguish it from what you actually observed.

Live this todaySpeculation Shapes How We SeeThis 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 3.20.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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