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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
3.26.353.26.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.26.36

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

मृदुत्वं कठिनत्वं च शैत्यमुष्णत्वमेव च ।

एतत्स्पर्शस्य स्पर्शत्वं तन्मात्रत्वं नभस्वत: ॥ ३६ ॥

mṛdutvaṁ kaṭhinatvaṁ ca

śaityam uṣṇatvam eva ca

etat sparśasya sparśatvaṁ

tan-mātratvaṁ nabhasvataḥ

Translation

Softness and hardness and cold and heat are the distinguishing attributes of touch, which is characterized as the subtle form of air.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Touch Reveals the Qualities of Objects

  1. 1

    Softness, hardness, cold and heat are distinguishing attributes of touch. Touch is described as the subtle form of air.

  2. 2

    Tangibility gives evidence of form. Through touch, objects are perceived as soft or hard, cold or hot.

  3. 3

    The action of the tactile sense results from the evolution of air. Air is produced from the sky.

Key points from the purport
  • In actuality, objects are perceived in two different ways.
  • They are either soft or hard, cold or hot, etc. This tangible action of the tactile sense is the result of the evolution of air, which is produced from the sky.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mṛdutvamsoftness
  2. kaṭhinatvamhardness
  3. caand
  4. śaityamcold
  5. uṣṇatvamheat
  6. evaalso
  7. caand
  8. etatthis
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

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

What qualities of an object do I learn through touch rather than sight?

Practice

Gently touch one soft object and one hard object, noticing the distinction described in this verse.

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 todayTouch Reveals the Qualities of ObjectsThis 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 3.26.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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