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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 33: Activities of Kapila
3.33.13.33.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.33.2

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Devahūtisince 3.33.2inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

देवहूतिरुवाच

अथाप्यजोऽन्त:सलिले शयानं

भूतेन्द्रियार्थात्ममयं वपुस्ते ।

गुणप्रवाहं सदशेषबीजं

दध्यौ स्वयं यज्जठराब्जजात: ॥ २ ॥

devahūtir uvāca

athāpy ajo ’ntaḥ-salile śayānaṁ

bhūtendriyārthātma-mayaṁ vapus te

guṇa-pravāhaṁ sad-aśeṣa-bījaṁ

dadhyau svayaṁ yaj-jaṭharābja-jātaḥ

Translation

Devahūti said: Brahmā is said to be unborn because he takes birth from the lotus flower which grows from Your abdomen while You lie in the ocean at the bottom of the universe. But even Brahmā simply meditated upon You, whose body is the source of unlimited universes.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Source of Creation Becomes Her Child

  1. 1

    Brahmā was born directly from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu. Even he had to meditate for many years and could not see the Lord directly.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s body is transcendental and untouched by matter. It existed before material creation and is the source of living entities and material nature.

  3. 3

    Devahūti did not find her deliverance from māyā astonishing for the source of all creation. What amazed her was His kindness in taking birth as her child.

Key points from the purport
  • But Brahmā, being the first living creature within this universe, was born directly from the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is known as Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu, the Viṣṇu form lying down in the ocean at the bottom of the universe.
  • The conclusion is that the transcendental body of Viṣṇu is not made of material elements.
  • The body of Viṣṇu is the source of all other living entities, as well as the material nature, which is also supposed to be the energy of that Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 33: Activities of Kapila

Devahūti follows Kapila’s instructions and attains liberation; Kapila travels onward and receives prayers and offerings.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.33
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. devahūtiḥ uvācaDevahūti said
  2. atha apimoreover
  3. ajaḥLord Brahmā
  4. antaḥ-salilein the water
  5. śayānamlying
  6. bhūtathe material elements
  7. indriyathe senses
  8. arthathe sense objects
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.33

    In this verse: “māyā”, “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.33

    In this verse: “kindness”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.33

    In this verse: “child”

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 touches you about Devahūti’s wonder at the Lord’s kindness?

Practice

Spend one minute reflecting on Devahūti’s gratitude that the source of all creation became her child.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Source of Creation Becomes Her ChildThis 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 3.33.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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