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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.26.52

Who is speaking and story frame

एतदण्डं विशेषाख्यं क्रमवृद्धैर्दशोत्तरै: ।

तोयादिभि: परिवृतं प्रधानेनावृतैर्बहि: ।

यत्र लोकवितानोऽयं रूपं भगवतो हरे: ॥ ५२ ॥

etad aṇḍaṁ viśeṣākhyaṁ

krama-vṛddhair daśottaraiḥ

toyādibhiḥ parivṛtaṁ

pradhānenāvṛtair bahiḥ

yatra loka-vitāno ’yaṁ

rūpaṁ bhagavato hareḥ

Translation

This universal egg, or the universe in the shape of an egg, is called the manifestation of material energy. Its layers of water, air, fire, sky, ego and mahat-tattva increase in thickness one after another. Each layer is ten times bigger than the previous one, and the final outside layer is covered by pradhāna. Within this egg is the universal form of Lord Hari, of whose body the fourteen planetary systems are parts.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Universal Form and Original Lord

  1. 1

    The egglike universe has coverings that successively increase tenfold, with pradhāna outside. Its dimensions are inconceivable to the tiny human brain.

  2. 2

    The fourteen planetary systems are parts of Lord Hari's universal body. Those unable to worship His transcendental form directly are advised to think of and worship this universal form.

  3. 3

    The virāṭ-puruṣa is an incarnation, but Kṛṣṇa is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ādi-puruṣa. Speculation or falsely identifying oneself with God cannot measure His greatness.

Key points from the purport
  • Within this egglike universe is the universal form of the Lord as the virāṭ-puruṣa.
  • The planetary systems are considered to form different bodily parts of that universal form of the Lord.
  • The layer of water is ten times greater than the diameter of the universe, and the layer of fire is ten times greater than that of water.

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. etatthis
  2. aṇḍamegg
  3. viśeṣa-ākhyamcalled viśeṣa
  4. kramaone after another
  5. vṛddhaiḥincreased
  6. daśaten times
  7. uttaraiḥgreater
  8. toya-ādibhiḥby water and so on
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.26

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.26

    In this verse: “worship”

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 contemplating the vast universe deepen my humility and desire to worship Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute remembering the universe as the Lord's universal form and Kṛṣṇa as the original Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Universal Form and Original LordThis 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 3.26.52? Get an answer from the verses themselves.