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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 26: Fundamental Principles of Material Nature
3.26.623.26.64

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.26.63

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

वह्निर्वाचा मुखं भेजे नोदतिष्ठत्तदा विराट् ।

घ्राणेन नासिके वायुर्नोदतिष्ठत्तदा विराट् ॥ ६३ ॥

vahnir vācā mukhaṁ bheje

nodatiṣṭhat tadā virāṭ

ghrāṇena nāsike vāyur

nodatiṣṭhat tadā virāṭ

Translation

The god of fire entered His mouth with the organ of speech, but the virāṭ-puruṣa could not be aroused. Then the god of wind entered His nostrils with the sense of smell, but still the virāṭ-puruṣa refused to be awakened.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Speech and Smell Cannot Awaken Him

  1. 1

    The god of fire entered the mouth of the virāṭ-puruṣa with the organ of speech.

  2. 2

    The god of wind entered His nostrils with the sense of smell.

  3. 3

    Neither entry awakened the virāṭ-puruṣa. The presence of these deities and their respective faculties was not sufficient to arouse Him.

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. vahniḥthe god of fire
  2. vācāwith the organ of speech
  3. mukhamthe mouth
  4. bhejeentered
  5. nanot
  6. udatiṣṭhatdid arise
  7. tadāthen
  8. virāṭthe virāṭ-puruṣa
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 does the failure of speech and smell to awaken Him invite me to consider about their limits?

Practice

Read the verse aloud once, noticing that even the entry of speech and smell did not awaken the virāṭ-puruṣa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpeech and Smell Cannot Awaken HimThis 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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