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
3.4.263.4.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.4.27

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 3.4.27inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitUddhava → Vidura

श्री शुक उवाच

इति सह विदुरेण विश्वमूर्ते-

र्गुणकथया सुधयाप्लावितोरुताप: ।

क्षणमिव पुलिने यमस्वसुस्तां

समुषित औपगविर्निशां ततोऽगात् ॥ २७ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

iti saha vidureṇa viśva-mūrter

guṇa-kathayā sudhayā plāvitoru-tāpaḥ

kṣaṇam iva puline yamasvasus tāṁ

samuṣita aupagavir niśāṁ tato ’gāt

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, after thus discussing with Vidura the transcendental name, fame, qualities, etc., on the bank of the Yamunā, Uddhava was overwhelmed with great affliction. He passed the night as if it were a moment, and thereafter he went away.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remembering Kṛṣṇa Reveals His Personal Form

  1. 1

    Uddhava and Vidura felt great affliction at Lord Kṛṣṇa’s departure. Absorbed in discussing His transcendental name, fame and qualities, they passed the night as if it were a moment.

  2. 2

    The more they discussed the Lord, the more His form became visible to them everywhere. Such perception is factual Absolute Truth, not imagination.

  3. 3

    The name viśva-mūrti does not mean that Kṛṣṇa loses His personality or eternal transcendental form. He becomes visible everywhere in that same form.

Key points from the purport
  • The word used here for Kṛṣṇa is viśva-mūrti.
  • Both Uddhava and Vidura were in great affliction because of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s departure, and the more they discussed the transcendental name, fame and qualities of the Lord, the more the picture of the Lord became visible to them everywhere.
  • When the Lord is perceived as viśva-mūrti, it is not that He loses His personality or transcendental eternal form, but He becomes visible in the same form everywhere.

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. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. itithus
  3. sahaalong with
  4. vidureṇaVidura
  5. viśva-mūrteḥof the Universal Person
  6. guṇa-kathayāin the discourse of transcendental qualities
  7. sudhayānectarean
  8. plāvita-uru-tāpaḥoverwhelmed by great affliction
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.4

    In this verse: “king”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

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 attentively do I hear and speak about Kṛṣṇa’s name, fame and qualities?

Practice

Spend five minutes reading or discussing a description of Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental qualities with care and attention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemembering Kṛṣṇa Reveals His Personal FormThis 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 3.4.27? 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