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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
3.26.263.26.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.26.27

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

वैकारिकाद्विकुर्वाणान्मनस्तत्त्वमजायत ।

यत्सङ्कल्पविकल्पाभ्यां वर्तते कामसम्भव: ॥ २७ ॥

vaikārikād vikurvāṇān

manas-tattvam ajāyata

yat-saṅkalpa-vikalpābhyāṁ

vartate kāma-sambhavaḥ

Translation

From the false ego of goodness, another transformation takes place. From this evolves the mind, whose thoughts and reflections give rise to desire.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Fixing the Mind in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

  1. 1

    The mind evolves from false ego in goodness. Its thoughts and reflections give rise to desire.

  2. 2

    The material mind accepts what favors sense gratification and rejects what does not. This acceptance and rejection are temporary and leave the mind unsettled.

  3. 3

    The same mind can become fixed through activities of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Academic qualifications alone cannot give this steadiness.

Key points from the purport
  • The material mind is not fixed, but the very same mind can be fixed when engaged in the activities of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
  • It is stated that he whose mind is not fixed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness must hover between acceptance and rejection.
  • However advanced a man is in academic qualifications, as long as he is not fixed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness he will simply accept and reject and will never be able to fix his mind on a particular subject matter.

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

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 20.276

The mahat-tattva is transformed into three divisions: (1) vaikārika, egotism in goodness (sāttvika-ahaṅkāra), from which is manifested the eleventh sense organ, the mind, whose predominating Deity is Aniruddha; (2) taijasa, or egotism in passion (rājasa-ahaṅkāra), from which are manifested the active and knowledge-acquiring senses, along with the intelligence, whose predominating Deity is Lord Pradyumna; and (3) tāmasa, or egotism in…

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vaikārikātfrom the false ego of goodness
  2. vikurvāṇātundergoing transformation
  3. manaḥthe mind
  4. tattvamprinciple
  5. ajāyataevolved
  6. yatwhose
  7. saṅkalpathoughts
  8. vikalpābhyāmand by reflections
  9. vartatehappens
  10. kāma-sambhavaḥthe rise of desire
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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: “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 3.26

    In this verse: “false ego”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.26

    In this verse: “favors”

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

Which desires keep my mind moving between acceptance and rejection?

Practice

Today, pause when you notice an unsettled desire and choose one activity that helps you remember Kṛṣṇa.

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 todayFixing the Mind in Kṛṣṇa ConsciousnessThis 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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