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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
3.25.83.25.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.25.9

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Devahūtisince 3.25.7inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

य आद्यो भगवान् पुंसामीश्वरो वै भवान् किल ।

लोकस्य तमसान्धस्य चक्षु: सूर्य इवोदित: ॥ ९ ॥

ya ādyo bhagavān puṁsām

īśvaro vai bhavān kila

lokasya tamasāndhasya

cakṣuḥ sūrya ivoditaḥ

Translation

You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the origin and Supreme Lord of all living entities. You have arisen to disseminate the rays of the sun in order to dissipate the darkness of the ignorance of the universe.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Illuminates Spiritual Reality

  1. 1

    Kapila Muni is a direct expansion of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the origin and Supreme Lord of all living entities.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is the sun of spiritual knowledge. As sunlight removes darkness, the Lord’s light removes the darkness of māyā.

  3. 3

    Eyes cannot see without light. Similarly, without the light of the Supreme Lord or the grace of the spiritual master, we cannot see things as they are.

Key points from the purport
  • Kapila Muni is accepted as an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.
  • As the sun dissipates the darkness of the universe, so when the light of the Supreme Personality of Godhead comes down it at once dissipates the darkness of māyā.
  • Similarly, without the light of the Supreme Lord, or without the divine grace of the spiritual master, one cannot see things as they are.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥHe who
  2. ādyaḥthe origin
  3. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. puṁsāmof all living entities
  5. īśvaraḥthe Lord
  6. vaiin fact
  7. bhavānYou
  8. kilaindeed
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “māyā”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “grace”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where do I need the Lord’s spiritual light rather than relying only on my own perception?

Practice

Before studying today, pause and ask the Lord for the light to understand things as they are.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

1 lecture given on it · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 other lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayThe Lord Illuminates Spiritual RealityThis 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 3.25.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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