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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 4: Vidura Approaches Maitreya
3.4.163.4.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.4.17

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 3.4.14inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitUddhava → Vidura

मन्त्रेषु मां वा उपहूय यत्त्व-

मकुण्ठिताखण्डसदात्मबोध: ।

पृच्छे: प्रभो मुग्ध इवाप्रमत्त-

स्तन्नो मनो मोहयतीव देव ॥ १७ ॥

mantreṣu māṁ vā upahūya yat tvam

akuṇṭhitākhaṇḍa-sadātma-bodhaḥ

pṛccheḥ prabho mugdha ivāpramattas

tan no mano mohayatīva deva

Translation

O my Lord, Your eternal Self is never divided by the influence of time, and there is no limitation to Your perfect knowledge. Thus You were sufficiently able to consult with Yourself, yet You called upon me for consultation, as if bewildered, although You are never bewildered. And this act of Yours bewilders me.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Perfect Knowledge Never Fails

  1. 1

    The Lord is unhampered by eternal time, and nothing is hidden from Him. His knowledge is eternally complete.

  2. 2

    Although Kṛṣṇa needed no enlightenment, He called Uddhava for consultation. This appears astonishing, but there is no actual contradiction in the Lord’s activities.

  3. 3

    Uddhava was not actually bewildered; the discussion was meant for Maitreya’s benefit. The purport advises accepting these activities as they are rather than attempting to explain away their apparent contradictions.

Key points from the purport
  • Uddhava was never actually bewildered, but he says that all these contradictions appear to be bewildering.
  • The Lord has no past, present and future because He is unhampered by the influence of eternal time and thus nothing is hidden from Him.
  • Therefore His calling for Uddhava to give Him enlightenment is certainly astonishing.

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. mantreṣuin consultations
  2. māmunto me
  3. vaias either
  4. upahūyaby calling
  5. yatas much as
  6. tvamYour Lordship
  7. akuṇṭhitawithout hesitation
  8. akhaṇḍawithout being separated
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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

How can I respect the Lord’s perfect knowledge when His actions seem puzzling?

Practice

Reread the translation and identify the distinction between the Lord appearing bewildered and His never actually being bewildered.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.4's connections

Live this todayThe Lord’s Perfect Knowledge Never FailsThis 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 3.4.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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