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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
3.23.73.23.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.23.8

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Kardama Munisince 3.23.8inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

अन्ये पुनर्भगवतो भ्रुव उद्विजृम्भ-

विभ्रंशितार्थरचना: किमुरुक्रमस्य ।

सिद्धासि भुङ्‌क्ष्व विभवान्निजधर्मदोहान्

दिव्यान्नरैर्दुरधिगान्नृपविक्रियाभि: ॥ ८ ॥

anye punar bhagavato bhruva udvijṛmbha-

vibhraṁśitārtha-racanāḥ kim urukramasya

siddhāsi bhuṅkṣva vibhavān nija-dharma-dohān

divyān narair duradhigān nṛpa-vikriyābhiḥ

Translation

Kardama Muni continued: What is the use of enjoyments other than the Lord’s grace? All material achievements are subject to be annihilated simply by a movement of the eyebrows of Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By your principles of devotion to your husband, you have achieved and can enjoy transcendental gifts very rarely obtained by persons proud of aristocracy and material possessions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Love of God Is the Highest Gift

  1. 1

    All material achievements can be destroyed simply by a movement of Lord Viṣṇu’s eyebrows. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and His grace is more valuable than other enjoyments.

  2. 2

    Love of God is the highest perfection of human life. Pride in aristocracy, wealth and prosperity can prevent someone from appreciating its value.

  3. 3

    Devahūti’s sincere, loving service pleased her saintly husband, who offered her love of God. The purport identifies kṛṣṇa-premā, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, as the highest gift we can give someone we love.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Caitanya recommended that the greatest achievement of human life is to achieve the grace of the Lord, love of God.
  • Although Devahūti was a princess coming from a very great royal family, fortunately she was under the supervision of her great husband, Kardama Muni, who offered her the best gift which can be bestowed in human life: the grace of the Lord, or love of God.
  • Devahūti, as the wife of Kardama Muni, achieved an invaluable gift from her husband because she was very faithful to him.

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. anyeothers
  2. punaḥagain
  3. bhagavataḥof the Lord
  4. bhruvaḥof the eyebrows
  5. udvijṛmbhaby the movement
  6. vibhraṁśitaannihilated
  7. artha-racanāḥmaterial achievements
  8. kimwhat use
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “wealth”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “proud”, “pride”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “devotion”

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

What do my choices show that I consider life’s greatest gift?

Practice

Share one sentence from this purport about love of God with someone willing to hear it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLove of God Is the Highest GiftThis 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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