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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
3.26.83.26.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.26.9

Sarga· Creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Devahūtisince 3.26.9inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

देवहूतिरुवाच

प्रकृते: पुरुषस्यापि लक्षणं पुरुषोत्तम ।

ब्रूहि कारणयोरस्य सदसच्च यदात्मकम् ॥ ९ ॥

devahūtir uvāca

prakṛteḥ puruṣasyāpi

lakṣaṇaṁ puruṣottama

brūhi kāraṇayor asya

sad-asac ca yad-ātmakam

Translation

Devahūti said: O Supreme Personality of Godhead, kindly explain the characteristics of the Supreme Person and His energies, for both of these are the causes of this manifest and unmanifest creation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Nature Works Under the Supreme Lord’s Direction

  1. 1

    Devahūti asks about the Supreme Person and His energies as causes of the manifest and unmanifest creation. She seeks to understand material nature’s relationship with the Lord.

  2. 2

    Nature does not work blindly; it works under the Supreme Lord’s direction and will. Unlike the living entities, the Lord is never bewildered or controlled by material nature.

  3. 3

    Material nature continues to exist as the Lord’s subtle energy, while the cosmic manifestation appears and disappears. The Lord is the supreme cause of both subtle and gross manifestations.

Key points from the purport
  • Prakṛti, or material nature, is connected with both the Supreme Lord and the living entities, just as a woman is connected with her husband as a wife and with her children as a mother.
  • Now an understanding of the relationship between material nature and the Supreme Lord is sought by Devahūti.
  • Because the living entities are infinitesimal, they become bewildered or conditioned by material nature, but this does not mean that the Supreme Lord is also conditioned or bewildered.

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. devahūtiḥ uvācaDevahūti said
  2. prakṛteḥof His energies
  3. puruṣasyaof the Supreme Person
  4. apialso
  5. lakṣaṇamcharacteristics
  6. puruṣa-uttamaO Supreme Personality of Godhead
  7. brūhikindly explain
  8. kāraṇayoḥcauses
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.26

    In this verse: “kindly”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.26

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.26

    In this verse: “material”

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 remembering the Lord’s direction change my understanding of material nature?

Practice

Observe one feature of nature today and reflect that nature works under the Supreme Lord’s direction, not independently.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayNature Works Under the Supreme Lord’s DirectionThis 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 3.26.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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