1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 4: Vidura Approaches Maitreya
3.4.113.4.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.4.12

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 3.3.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitUddhava → Vidura

स एष साधो चरमो भवाना-

मासादितस्ते मदनुग्रहो यत् ।

यन्मां नृलोकान् रह उत्सृजन्तं

दिष्टय‍ा दद‍ृश्वान् विशदानुवृत्त्या ॥ १२ ॥

sa eṣa sādho caramo bhavānām

āsāditas te mad-anugraho yat

yan māṁ nṛlokān raha utsṛjantaṁ

diṣṭyā dadṛśvān viśadānuvṛttyā

Translation

O honest one, your present life is the last and the supermost because in this term of life you have been awarded My ultimate favor. Now you can go to My transcendental abode, Vaikuṇṭha, by leaving this universe of conditioned living entities. Your visit to Me in this lonely place because of your pure and unflinching devotional service is a great boon for you.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Unflinching Devotion Receives the Lord’s Favor

  1. 1

    The Lord described Uddhava’s present life as his last and highest because he had received His ultimate favor. His pure, unflinching devotional service brought him this great boon.

  2. 2

    Uddhava was fortunate to see the Lord just before His disappearance from this universe. He received permission to enter Vaikuṇṭha, the Lord’s transcendental abode.

  3. 3

    The Lord is everywhere at all times, both in Vaikuṇṭha and beyond it. His appearance and disappearance resemble sunrise and sunset: they describe the experience of those who see Him.

Key points from the purport
  • When a person is fully conversant with knowledge of the Lord as far as can be known by a perfect living entity in the liberated state, he is allowed to enter into the spiritual sky, where the Vaikuṇṭha planets exist.
  • The Lord was sitting in a lonely place just about to disappear from the vision of the inhabitants of this universe, and Uddhava was fortunate to see Him even at that time and thus receive the Lord’s permission to enter Vaikuṇṭha.
  • The Lord is simultaneously both in Vaikuṇṭha and everywhere within and without Vaikuṇṭha.

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

Separation → Devotional remembrance. Uddhava's tears and silence make remembrance emotionally immediate.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 3: Vidura meets Uddhava and hears of Kṛṣṇa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 4: Vidura Approaches Maitreya

Uddhava recalls the Lord’s instructions and directs Vidura to receive transcendental knowledge from Maitreya.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥthat
  2. eṣaḥof those
  3. sādhoO honest one
  4. caramaḥthe ultimate
  5. bhavānāmof all your incarnations (as Vasu)
  6. āsāditaḥnow achieved
  7. teunto you
  8. matMy
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.4

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.4

    In this verse: “favor”

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 can remembering the Lord’s constant presence strengthen my devotion?

Practice

Pause before one act of devotional service today and remember that the Lord is present even when unseen.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnflinching Devotion Receives the Lord’s FavorThis 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 3.4.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories