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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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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
3.4.123.4.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.4.13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 3.3.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitUddhava → Vidura

पुरा मया प्रोक्तमजाय नाभ्ये

पद्मे निषण्णाय ममादिसर्गे ।

ज्ञानं परं मन्महिमावभासं

यत्सूरयो भागवतं वदन्ति ॥ १३ ॥

purā mayā proktam ajāya nābhye

padme niṣaṇṇāya mamādi-sarge

jñānaṁ paraṁ man-mahimāvabhāsaṁ

yat sūrayo bhāgavataṁ vadanti

Translation

O Uddhava, in the lotus millennium in the days of yore, at the beginning of the creation, I spoke unto Brahmā, who is situated on the lotus that grows out of My navel, about My transcendental glories, which the great sages describe as Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Reveals the Lord’s Personality

  1. 1

    At the beginning of creation, the Lord spoke to Brahmā about His transcendental glories. The great sages describe this knowledge as Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

  2. 2

    The concise form of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam was meant to explain the Lord’s personality. The purport therefore rejects an impersonal explanation of it.

  3. 3

    Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that this concise teaching concerns the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. It was never intended for impersonal speculation.

Key points from the purport
  • The explanation of the Supreme Self, as given to Brahmā and already explained in the Second Canto of this great literature, is further clarified herein.
  • The Lord said that the concise form of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as explained to Brahmā was meant to elucidate His personality.
  • Śrīdhara Svāmī also explains in this connection that the same concise form of the Bhāgavatam concerned the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa and was never meant for impersonal indulgence.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. purāin the days of yore
  2. mayāby Me
  3. proktamwas said
  4. ajāyaunto Brahmā
  5. nābhyeout of the navel
  6. padmeon the lotus
  7. niṣaṇṇāyaunto the one situated on
  8. mamaMy
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.4

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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

Am I reading Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to learn about the Lord as a person?

Practice

Reread this translation once, focusing on the Lord’s words about His own transcendental glories.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam Reveals the Lord’s PersonalityThis 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 3.4.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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