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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
3.26.653.26.67

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.26.66

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

गुदं मृत्युरपानेन नोदतिष्ठत्तदा विराट् ।

हस्ताविन्द्रो बलेनैव नोदतिष्ठत्तदा विराट् ॥ ६६ ॥

gudaṁ mṛtyur apānena

nodatiṣṭhat tadā virāṭ

hastāv indro balenaiva

nodatiṣṭhat tadā virāṭ

Translation

The god of death entered His anus with the organ of defecation, but the virāṭ-puruṣa could not be spurred to activity. The god Indra entered the hands with their power of grasping and dropping things, but the virāṭ-puruṣa would not get up even then.

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.

Death and Indra Cannot Awaken Him

  1. 1

    The god of death entered the anus of the virāṭ-puruṣa with the organ of defecation, but could not spur Him to activity.

  2. 2

    Indra entered His hands with their power of grasping and dropping things.

  3. 3

    Even with Indra’s entry, the virāṭ-puruṣa did not get up. Neither of these deities could awaken Him through the bodily functions they governed.

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. gudamHis anus
  2. mṛtyuḥthe god of death
  3. apānenawith the organ of defecation
  4. nanot
  5. udatiṣṭhatdid arise
  6. tadāeven then
  7. virāṭthe virāṭ-puruṣa
  8. hastauthe two hands
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.26

    In this verse: “death”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.26

    In this verse: “governed”

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 can I learn from the inability of these powerful deities to make the virāṭ-puruṣa rise?

Practice

Summarize the verse in one sentence, including both the deities’ efforts and their inability to awaken Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDeath and Indra 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.26.66? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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