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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
3.4.293.4.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.4.30

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 3.4.29inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अस्माल्लोकादुपरते मयि ज्ञानं मदाश्रयम् ।

अर्हत्युद्धव एवाद्धा सम्प्रत्यात्मवतां वर: ॥ ३० ॥

asmāl lokād uparate

mayi jñānaṁ mad-āśrayam

arhaty uddhava evāddhā

sampraty ātmavatāṁ varaḥ

Translation

Now I shall leave the vision of this mundane world, and I see that Uddhava, the foremost of My devotees, is the only one who can be directly entrusted with knowledge about Me.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Reveals the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Transcendental knowledge includes knowledge of impersonal Brahman, the all-pervading Supersoul and the Personality of Godhead. Specific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead has special significance.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is truly known through pure devotional service and no other means. As the foremost devotee, Uddhava received direct instruction so others could benefit after the Lord’s disappearance.

  3. 3

    At Badarikāśrama, the Lord is personally represented by the Nara-Nārāyaṇa Deity. A devotee takes shelter of a recognized temple to advance in transcendental knowledge by the Lord’s grace.

Key points from the purport
  • Out of the three, transcendental knowledge of the Personality of Godhead has special significance and is known as bhagavat-tattva-vijñāna, specific knowledge of the Personality of Godhead.
  • Uddhava was considered to be the best amongst all devotees of that time, and therefore he was directly instructed by the Lord’s grace, so that people might take advantage of Uddhava’s knowledge after the disappearance of the Lord from the vision of the world.
  • One who is transcendentally advanced can gain direct inspiration from the temple Deity, and thus a devotee of the Lord always takes shelter of a recognized temple of the Lord in order to make tangible advancement in transcendental knowledge by the grace of the Lord.

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 3.4.30 quotesBG 18.55

Bhagavad-gītā (18.55) confirms this: bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ. “Only persons engaged in devotional service can factually know the transcendental position of the Lord.”

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. asmātfrom this (universe)
  2. lokātearth
  3. uparatehaving disappeared
  4. mayiof Myself
  5. jñānamknowledge
  6. mat-āśrayamconcerning Myself
  7. arhatideserves
  8. uddhavaḥUddhava
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.4

    In this verse: “grace”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I approaching knowledge of the Lord as a matter of devotional service, rather than study alone?

Practice

Spend five minutes studying this teaching with a prayer for the Lord’s grace to understand Him through devotional service.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Reveals the Supreme LordThis 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.

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