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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
3.4.213.4.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.4.22

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

यत्र नारायणो देवो नरश्च भगवानृषि: ।

मृदु तीव्रं तपो दीर्घं तेपाते लोकभावनौ ॥ २२ ॥

yatra nārāyaṇo devo

naraś ca bhagavān ṛṣiḥ

mṛdu tīvraṁ tapo dīrghaṁ

tepāte loka-bhāvanau

Translation

There in Badarikāśrama the Personality of Godhead, in His incarnation as the sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa, has been undergoing great penance since time immemorial for the welfare of all amiable living entities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Holy Places Support Spiritual Realization

  1. 1

    At Badarikāśrama, the Personality of Godhead appears as the sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa. They perform great penance for the welfare of living entities.

  2. 2

    Badarikāśrama is an ancient place of pilgrimage in the Himālayas. Faithful pilgrims visit despite the difficult journey and personal inconvenience.

  3. 3

    Badarikāśrama, Rameśvara, Jagannātha Purī and Dvārakā are four dhāmas, or kingdoms of God, representing the spiritual planets. Devotees visit these places for perfection of spiritual realization, following devotees like Uddhava.

Key points from the purport
  • Badarikāśrama in the Himālayas, the abode of the Nara-Nārāyaṇa sages, is a great place of pilgrimage for the Hindus.
  • A few months during the summer season people can visit this place at great personal inconvenience.
  • Faithful Hindus still visit all these holy places for perfection of spiritual realization, following in the footsteps of devotees like Uddhava.

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. yatrawhere
  2. nārāyaṇaḥthe Personality of Godhead
  3. devaḥby incarnation
  4. naraḥhuman being
  5. caalso
  6. bhagavānthe Lord
  7. ṛṣiḥgreat sage
  8. mṛduamiable to everyone
3

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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.4

    In this verse: “welfare”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.4

    In this verse: “kingdoms”

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 can I learn from pilgrims who accept inconvenience for spiritual realization?

Practice

Spend a minute respectfully remembering Nara and Nārāyaṇa and Their penance for the welfare of living entities.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHoly Places Support Spiritual RealizationThis 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 3.4.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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