1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
3.26.173.26.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.26.18

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

अन्त: पुरुषरूपेण कालरूपेण यो बहि: ।

समन्वेत्येष सत्त्वानां भगवानात्ममायया ॥ १८ ॥

antaḥ puruṣa-rūpeṇa

kāla-rūpeṇa yo bahiḥ

samanvety eṣa sattvānāṁ

bhagavān ātma-māyayā

Translation

By exhibiting His potencies, the Supreme Personality of Godhead adjusts all these different elements, keeping Himself within as the Supersoul and without as time.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Remains Beside the Soul

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead resides within the heart as Paramātmā, the Supersoul, and remains outside as time. Within, He witnesses, sanctions and maintains the individual soul.

  2. 2

    Paramātmā is different from the conditioned soul. The soul experiences bodily happiness and distress, while the Lord remains as witness and sanction-giver.

  3. 3

    The living entity has minute independence to forget the Lord or turn toward His service. Although the soul forgets Him, the affectionate Lord always remains beside the soul.

Key points from the purport
  • But the supreme living being, or the Paramātmā, is different from the conditioned soul.
  • Yet the Lord is so kind that, as Supersoul, He always remains with the conditioned soul.
  • Outside the body of the conditioned soul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead remains as the time factor.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 3.26.18 quotesBG 13.23

This puruṣa, or Paramātmā, who resides within the body of the individual soul, is described in Bhagavad-gītā (13.23) as the upadraṣṭā, witness, and the anumantā, sanctioning authority.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. antaḥwithin
  2. puruṣa-rūpeṇain the form of Supersoul
  3. kāla-rūpeṇain the form of time
  4. yaḥHe who
  5. bahiḥwithout
  6. samanvetiexists
  7. eṣaḥHe
  8. sattvānāmof all living entities
  9. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  10. ātma-māyayāby His potencies
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.26

    In this verse: “distress”

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

How can I use my independence today to turn toward the Lord's service?

Practice

Before one decision today, pause to remember the Lord within your heart and choose with the intention of serving Him.

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 todayThe Lord Remains Beside the SoulThis 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 3.26.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories