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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
3.4.283.4.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.4.29

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 3.4.29inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्री शुक उवाच

ब्रह्मशापापदेशेन कालेनामोघवाञ्छित: ।

संहृत्य स्वकुलं स्फीतं त्यक्ष्यन्देहमचिन्तयत् ॥ २९ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

brahma-śāpāpadeśena

kālenāmogha-vāñchitaḥ

saṁhṛtya sva-kulaṁ sphītaṁ

tyakṣyan deham acintayat

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī replied: My dear King, the cursing of the brāhmaṇas was only a plea, but the actual fact was the supreme desire of the Lord. He wanted to disappear from the face of the earth after dispatching His excessively numerous family members. He thought to Himself as follows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Eternal Form Never Changes

  1. 1

    The brāhmaṇas’ curse was only a plea; the actual cause of the Lord’s departure was His supreme desire. His disappearance was not forced upon Him.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa’s body and Self are identical, eternally full of existence, knowledge and bliss. The purport explains that He withdrew His gigantic universal form, not His primeval, eternal form.

  3. 3

    The Lord reserves the right not to reveal Himself to everyone and cannot be perceived by material senses alone. Devotees realize that the temple Deity is nondifferent from the Lord’s own form.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Brahma-saṁhitā, the Lord has many forms.
  • It is stated therein that the Lord has innumerable forms, and when He appears within the vision of the living entities, as Lord Kṛṣṇa actually appeared, all such forms amalgamate with Him.
  • Similarly, when the Lord quits His virāṭ-rūpa, His eternal form does not change, although there is no material difference between Himself and any one of His innumerable forms.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 3.4.29 quotesBG 7.25

This inconceivable performance of the internal potency of the Lord is described in Bhagavad-gītā (7.25): nāhaṁ prakāśaḥ sarvasya yoga-māyā-samāvṛtaḥ.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. brahma-śāpacursing by the brāhmaṇas
  3. apadeśenaon the plea, by such a show
  4. kālenaby the eternal time
  5. amoghaunfailing
  6. vāñchitaḥone who so desires
  7. saṁhṛtyaclosing
  8. sva-kulamown family
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.4

    In this verse: “king”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.4

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

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 does knowing that Kṛṣṇa’s form is eternal affect the way I think about His disappearance?

Practice

Reread the teaching that Kṛṣṇa’s body and Self are identical, then offer Him a brief, respectful prayer.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Eternal Form Never ChangesThis 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 3.4.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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