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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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
3.26.643.26.66

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.26.65

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

त्वचं रोमभिरोषध्यो नोदतिष्ठत्तदा विराट् ।

रेतसा शिश्नमापस्तु नोदतिष्ठत्तदा विराट् ॥ ६५ ॥

tvacaṁ romabhir oṣadhyo

nodatiṣṭhat tadā virāṭ

retasā śiśnam āpas tu

nodatiṣṭhat tadā virāṭ

Translation

The predominating deities of the skin, herbs and seasoning plants entered the skin of the virāṭ-puruṣa with the hair of the body, but the Cosmic Being refused to get up even then. The god predominating over water entered His organ of generation with the faculty of procreation, but the virāṭ-puruṣa still would not rise.

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.

Further Bodily Faculties Cannot Awaken Him

  1. 1

    The predominating deities of the skin, herbs, and seasoning plants entered the skin of the virāṭ-puruṣa with the body’s hair.

  2. 2

    The god presiding over water entered His organ of generation with the faculty of procreation.

  3. 3

    The Cosmic Being did not rise after either entry. These bodily faculties and their presiding deities still could not awaken 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. tvacamthe skin of the virāṭ-puruṣa
  2. romabhiḥwith the hair on the body
  3. oṣadhyaḥthe deities presiding over the herbs and plants
  4. nanot
  5. udatiṣṭhatdid arise
  6. tadāthen
  7. virāṭthe virāṭ-puruṣa
  8. retasāwith the faculty of procreation
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

How does the repeated statement that He did not rise shape my understanding of these bodily faculties?

Practice

Pause over each statement that the virāṭ-puruṣa did not rise, and reflect briefly on the limits shown here.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFurther Bodily Faculties 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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