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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 25: The Glories of Devotional Service
3.25.33.25.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.25.4

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 3.25.4inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

सूत उवाच

द्वैपायनसखस्त्वेवं मैत्रेयो भगवांस्तथा ।

प्राहेदं विदुरं प्रीत आन्वीक्षिक्यां प्रचोदित: ॥ ४ ॥

sūta uvāca

dvaipāyana-sakhas tv evaṁ

maitreyo bhagavāṁs tathā

prāhedaṁ viduraṁ prīta

ānvīkṣikyāṁ pracoditaḥ

Translation

Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said: The most powerful sage Maitreya was a friend of Vyāsadeva. Being encouraged and pleased by Vidura’s inquiry about transcendental knowledge, Maitreya spoke as follows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sincere Questions Encourage Fruitful Spiritual Discussion

  1. 1

    Spiritual questions and answers are satisfying when the inquirer is bona fide and the speaker is authorized.

  2. 2

    Maitreya was spiritually advanced and a personal friend of Vyāsadeva. He is addressed as bhagavān because of his spiritual greatness, though this word also names the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Vidura’s inquiries pleased Maitreya because they came from an advanced devotee. Discussion of transcendental topics between like-minded devotees is fruitful and encouraging.

Key points from the purport
  • Questions and answers are very satisfactorily dealt with when the inquirer is bona fide and the speaker is also authorized.
  • Here Maitreya is considered a powerful sage, and therefore he is also described as bhagavān.
  • Maitreya was very pleased with the inquiries of Vidura because they were the inquiries of a bona fide, advanced devotee.

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

Entanglement → Insight and liberation. Inquiry matures into instruction in devotion and spiritual nature.

Chapters 25–33 of Canto 3: Kapila instructs Devahūti. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 25: The Glories of Devotional Service

Kapila teaches Devahūti the glories of devotional service, association with devotees, and freedom from material attachment.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.25
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sūtaḥ uvācaSūta Gosvāmī said
  2. dvaipāyana-sakhaḥfriend of Vyāsadeva
  3. tuthen
  4. evamthus
  5. maitreyaḥMaitreya
  6. bhagavānworshipful
  7. tathāin that way
  8. prāhaspoke
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “inquiry”, “inquirer”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “devotee”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make my spiritual questions more sincere and thoughtful?

Practice

Write one sincere question about transcendental knowledge to ask an authorized spiritual teacher.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todaySincere Questions Encourage Fruitful Spiritual DiscussionThis 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 3.25.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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