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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
3.26.613.26.63

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.26.62

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

एते ह्यभ्युत्थिता देवा नैवास्योत्थापनेऽशकन् ।

पुनराविविशु: खानि तमुत्थापयितुं क्रमात् ॥ ६२ ॥

ete hy abhyutthitā devā

naivāsyotthāpane ’śakan

punar āviviśuḥ khāni

tam utthāpayituṁ kramāt

Translation

When the demigods and presiding deities of the various senses were thus manifested, they wanted to wake their origin of appearance. But upon failing to do so, they reentered the body of the virāṭ-puruṣa one after another in order to wake Him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Turn Sense Activities Inward

  1. 1

    The demigods and presiding deities of the senses wanted to awaken the universal form from whom they had appeared.

  2. 2

    Unable to awaken Him, they entered the body of the virāṭ-puruṣa one after another.

  3. 3

    The purport teaches that sense activities must be redirected from outward concentration to inward concentration to awaken the Deity-controller within.

Key points from the purport
  • In order to wake the sleeping Deity-controller within, one has to rechannel the sense activities from concentration on the outside to concentration inside.
  • In the following verses, the sense activities which are required to wake the virāṭ-puruṣa will be explained very nicely.

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. etethese
  2. hiindeed
  3. abhyutthitāḥmanifested
  4. devāḥdemigods
  5. nanot
  6. evaat all
  7. asyaof the virāṭ-puruṣa
  8. utthāpanein waking
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

Which outward distraction most often draws my attention away from the Deity-controller within?

Practice

Put aside one outward distraction for a minute and quietly direct your attention toward the Deity-controller within.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTurn Sense Activities InwardThis 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 3.26.62? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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