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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 26: Fundamental Principles of Material Nature
3.26.93.26.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.26.10

Sarga· Creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 3.26.10inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

श्रीभगवानुवाच

यत्तत्‍त्रिगुणमव्यक्तं नित्यं सदसदात्मकम् ।

प्रधानं प्रकृतिं प्राहुरविशेषं विशेषवत् ॥ १० ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

yat tat tri-guṇam avyaktaṁ

nityaṁ sad-asad-ātmakam

pradhānaṁ prakṛtiṁ prāhur

aviśeṣaṁ viśeṣavat

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: The unmanifested eternal combination of the three modes is the cause of the manifest state and is called pradhāna. It is called prakṛti when in the manifested stage of existence.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Distinguish Unmanifest Pradhāna from Manifest Prakṛti

  1. 1

    Pradhāna is the subtle, undifferentiated sum total of material elements. It is the eternal, unmanifest combination of the three modes before material manifestation.

  2. 2

    When the material elements become manifest through the interaction of the three modes, this manifestation is called prakṛti. In pradhāna, cause and effect are not clearly manifested.

  3. 3

    Pradhāna is not Brahman, because Brahman has no material modes. It is also distinct from time and from the living entities.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord points out material nature in its subtle stage, which is called pradhāna, and He analyzes this pradhāna.
  • When the total material elements are manifested by the interaction of the three modes of material nature, the manifestation is called prakṛti.
  • Therefore the condition of material nature immediately previous to its manifestation is called pradhāna.

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 26: Fundamental Principles of Material Nature

Kapila explains material nature, consciousness, time, the elements, and the manifestation of the universal form.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.26
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Personality of Godhead said
  2. yatnow further
  3. tatthat
  4. tri-guṇamcombination of the three modes
  5. avyaktamunmanifested
  6. nityameternal
  7. sat-asat-ātmakamconsisting of cause and effect
  8. pradhānamthe pradhāna
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sarga · The creation of the universe

    Where does the universe come from? · Subject 1 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.26

    In this verse: “material”

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

Can I distinguish the unmanifest material elements from their manifested condition?

Practice

Write two short definitions today: pradhāna as undifferentiated material nature, and prakṛti as its manifested condition.

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 todayDistinguish Unmanifest Pradhāna from Manifest PrakṛtiThis 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 3.26.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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