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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
3.26.333.26.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.26.34

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

भूतानां छिद्रदातृत्वं बहिरन्तरमेव च ।

प्राणेन्द्रियात्मधिष्ण्यत्वं नभसो वृत्तिलक्षणम् ॥ ३४ ॥

bhūtānāṁ chidra-dātṛtvaṁ

bahir antaram eva ca

prāṇendriyātma-dhiṣṇyatvaṁ

nabhaso vṛtti-lakṣaṇam

Translation

The activities and characteristics of the ethereal element can be observed as the accommodation of room for the external and internal existences of all living entities, namely the field of activities of the vital air, the senses and the mind.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Ether Accommodates Subtle and Gross Activities

  1. 1

    Ether provides room for the internal and external existence of living entities. It is the field of activity for vital air, the senses and the mind.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that forms can exist subtly without being visible to the naked eye. It describes the circulation of vital air and blood as internal activities of the ethereal element.

  3. 3

    Thinking, feeling and willing also take place on the platform of ethereal existence. The purport connects the mental condition at death with the next birth, when subtle mental existence takes tangible form.

Key points from the purport
  • The mind, the senses and the vital force, or living entity, have forms, although they are not visible to the naked eye.
  • The production of the invisible sense objects is the external activity of the ethereal element, and the circulation of vital air and blood is its internal activity.
  • This verse is the potential basis of great scientific research work, for it explains how subtle forms are generated from the ethereal element, what their characteristics and actions are, and how the tangible elements, namely air, fire, water and earth, are manifested from the subtle form.

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. bhūtānāmof all living entities
  2. chidra-dātṛtvamthe accommodation of room
  3. bahiḥexternal
  4. antaraminternal
  5. evaalso
  6. caand
  7. prāṇaof the vital air
  8. indriyathe senses
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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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.26

    In this verse: “death”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does recognizing the significance of subtle mental activity change the way I regard my thoughts?

Practice

Pause for one minute and notice one thought, one feeling and one act of willing.

5

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. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayEther Accommodates Subtle and Gross ActivitiesThis 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 3.26.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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