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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 23: Devahūti’s Lamentation
3.23.413.23.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.23.42

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.23.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

किं दुरापादनं तेषां पुंसामुद्दामचेतसाम् ।

यैराश्रितस्तीर्थपदश्चरणो व्यसनात्यय: ॥ ४२ ॥

kiṁ durāpādanaṁ teṣāṁ

puṁsām uddāma-cetasām

yair āśritas tīrtha-padaś

caraṇo vyasanātyayaḥ

Translation

What is difficult to achieve for determined men who have taken refuge of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s lotus feet? His feet are the source of sacred rivers like the Ganges, which put an end to the dangers of mundane life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Is Greater Than Mystic Power

  1. 1

    The Lord is called tīrtha-pāda because sacred rivers such as the Ganges come from His lotus feet. Taking shelter of those feet brings relief from material distress.

  2. 2

    Kardama Muni was glorious not merely because of his mystic powers, but because he was a great devotee. A devotee of the Lord is the highest among yogīs.

  3. 3

    Kardama Muni was already liberated and beyond material limitations. His household enjoyment did not place him under the conditions of material life.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore nothing is impossible for any living entity who has taken shelter of the holy lotus feet of the Lord.
  • Therefore it is said here that for a great devotee like Kardama Muni, nothing is impossible.
  • Although yogīs can perform wonderful feats, as Kardama has already displayed, Kardama was more than a yogī because he was a great devotee of the Lord; therefore he was more glorious than an ordinary yogī.

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 23: Devahūti’s Lamentation

Devahūti serves Kardama, shares his extraordinary household life, and asks who will comfort her after his departure.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.23
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kimwhat
  2. durāpādanamdifficult to achieve
  3. teṣāmfor those
  4. puṁsāmmen
  5. uddāma-cetasāmwho are determined
  6. yaiḥby whom
  7. āśritaḥtaken refuge
  8. tīrtha-padaḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  9. caraṇaḥfeet
  10. vyasana-atyayaḥwhich vanquish dangers
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “refuge”, “shelter”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “household”, “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “dangers”

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

Do I value devotion to the Lord more than extraordinary abilities?

Practice

Offer a short prayer for shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet and determination in devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Is Greater Than Mystic PowerThis 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 3.23.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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