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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 31: Lord Kapila’s Instructions on the Movements of the Living Entities
3.31.173.31.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.31.18

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Personality of Godheadsince 3.31.1inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

येनेद‍ृशीं गतिमसौ दशमास्य ईश

संग्राहित: पुरुदयेन भवाद‍ृशेन ।

स्वेनैव तुष्यतु कृतेन स दीननाथ:

को नाम तत्प्रति विनाञ्जलिमस्य कुर्यात् ॥ १८ ॥

yenedṛśīṁ gatim asau daśa-māsya īśa

saṅgrāhitaḥ puru-dayena bhavādṛśena

svenaiva tuṣyatu kṛtena sa dīna-nāthaḥ

ko nāma tat-prati vināñjalim asya kuryāt

Translation

My dear Lord, by Your causeless mercy I am awakened to consciousness, although I am only ten months old. For this causeless mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the friend of all fallen souls, there is no way to express my gratitude but to pray with folded hands.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Respond to the Lord’s Mercy with Gratitude

  1. 1

    The child recognizes that his awakened consciousness is the Lord’s causeless mercy. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the friend and refuge of fallen souls.

  2. 2

    When a soul sincerely seeks freedom from material influence, the Lord gives intelligence internally as the Supersoul and externally through the spiritual master and His instructions.

  3. 3

    The Lord is always seeking to bring fallen souls back to His abode and eternal happiness. We cannot sufficiently repay His kindness, but we can feel gratitude and pray with folded hands.

Key points from the purport
  • When He sees that a conditioned soul is very serious about getting out of the clutches of the material influence, the Supreme Lord gives intelligence internally as Supersoul and externally as the spiritual master, or, as an incarnation of the Personality of Godhead Himself, He helps by speaking instructions such as Bhagavad-gītā.
  • There is no sufficient means to repay the Personality of Godhead for His act of benediction; therefore, we can simply feel gratitude and pray to the Lord with folded hands.
  • By the transcendental energy of the Lord, everything is possible.

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 31: Lord Kapila’s Instructions on the Movements of the Living Entities

Kapila describes life in the womb, prayer, birth, forgetfulness, and continued bondage through material activities.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.31
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yenaby whom (the Lord)
  2. īdṛśīmsuch
  3. gatima condition
  4. asauthat person (myself)
  5. daśa-māsyaḥten months old
  6. īśaO Lord
  7. saṅgrāhitaḥwas made to accept
  8. puru-dayenavery merciful
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.31

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.31

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.31

    In this verse: “refuge”

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 spiritual guidance have I received that I can gratefully recognize as the Lord’s mercy?

Practice

Fold your hands and offer a short prayer thanking the Lord for His guidance and care.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRespond to the Lord’s Mercy with GratitudeThis 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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