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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
3.26.553.26.57

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.26.56

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

निर्बिभेद विराजस्त्वग्रोमश्मश्रवादयस्तत: ।

तत ओषधयश्चासन् शिश्नं निर्बिभिदे तत: ॥ ५६ ॥

nirbibheda virājas tvag-

roma-śmaśrv-ādayas tataḥ

tata oṣadhayaś cāsan

śiśnaṁ nirbibhide tataḥ

Translation

Then the universal form of the Lord, the virāṭ-puruṣa, manifested His skin, and thereupon the hair, mustache and beard appeared. After this all the herbs and drugs became manifested, and then His genitals also appeared.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Skin, Touch, and Medicinal Herbs

  1. 1

    The virāṭ-puruṣa manifested His skin, followed by hair, mustache and beard.

  2. 2

    Herbs and medicinal drugs then appeared, followed by His genitals.

  3. 3

    The skin is the site of touch sensation. The demigods who control the production of herbs and medicinal drugs preside over the tactile sense.

Key points from the purport
  • The skin is the site of the touch sensation.
  • The demigods who control the production of herbs and medicinal drugs are the deities presiding over the tactile sense.

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. nirbibhedaappeared
  2. virājaḥof the universal form
  3. tvakskin
  4. romahair
  5. śmaśrubeard, mustache
  6. ādayaḥand so on
  7. tataḥthen
  8. tataḥthereupon
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 connection does the purport make between touch and the production of medicinal herbs?

Practice

Gently touch a surface and recall that the skin is the site of touch sensation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySkin, Touch, and Medicinal HerbsThis 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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