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Study a Verse

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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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
3.26.493.26.51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.26.50

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

एतान्यसंहत्य यदा महदादीनि सप्त वै ।

कालकर्मगुणोपेतो जगदादिरुपाविशत् ॥ ५० ॥

etāny asaṁhatya yadā

mahad-ādīni sapta vai

kāla-karma-guṇopeto

jagad-ādir upāviśat

Translation

When all these elements were unmixed, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the origin of creation, along with time, work, and the qualities of the modes of material nature, entered into the universe with the total material energy in seven divisions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Enters Everything

  1. 1

    When the causes were still unmixed, the Supreme Personality of Godhead entered each universe as Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu.

  2. 2

    The seven primary elements accompanied Him: the five material elements, mahat-tattva and false ego. The translation also describes time, work and the modes of material nature accompanying Him.

  3. 3

    The Lord is not only within the universe but also within its atoms. He is within the heart of every living entity.

Key points from the purport
  • At that time when the causes were unmixed, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His feature of Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, entered within each universe.
  • Accompanying Him were all of the seven primary elements — the five material elements, the total energy (mahat-tattva) and the false ego.
  • This entrance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead involves His entering even the atoms of the material world.

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. etānithese
  2. asaṁhatyabeing unmixed
  3. yadāwhen
  4. mahat-ādīnithe mahat-tattva, false ego and five gross elements
  5. saptaall together seven
  6. vaiin fact
  7. kālatime
  8. karmawork
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”

  • Dainya · Humility

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

    In this verse: “false ego”

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 does remembering the Lord's presence in every heart affect the way I regard others?

Practice

Before one interaction today, pause to remember that the Lord is within that person's heart.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Enters EverythingThis 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 3.26.50? Get an answer from the verses themselves.