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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

3.4.33 3.4.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.4.34

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

देहन्यासं च तस्यैवं धीराणां धैर्यवर्धनम् ।

अन्येषां दुष्करतरं पशूनां विक्लवात्मनाम् ॥ ३४ ॥

deha-nyāsaṁ ca tasyaivaṁ

dhīrāṇāṁ dhairya-vardhanam

anyeṣāṁ duṣkarataraṁ

paśūnāṁ viklavātmanām

Translation

The Lord’s glorious acts and His acceptance of various transcendental forms for the performance of extraordinary pastimes in the mortal world are very difficult for anyone other than His devotees to understand, and for the beasts they are simply a mental disturbance.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Opens Understanding of the Lord

1
The Lord’s transcendental forms and pastimes are difficult for nondevotees to understand. He does not reveal Himself merely through the pursuits of jñānīs and yogīs.
2
Envy of the Lord and a spirit of revolt against Him obstruct understanding of the Personality of Godhead. Absorption in material enjoyment does not lead to knowledge of Him.
3
Discussing the Lord’s appearance and disappearance in an opposing spirit leads to further offenses. The proper approach is transcendental loving service, not hostility toward the Lord.

Key points from the purport

The transcendental forms and pastimes of the Lord, as described in Bhagavad-gītā, are difficult subject matters for those who are not devotees to understand.
And there are others who, because of their envying the Lord from the bottom of their hearts, are classified amongst the beasts, and for such envious beasts the subject matter of the Lord’s appearance and disappearance is simply a mental disturbance.
The more they discuss the transcendental appearance and disappearance of the Lord in the asuric spirit, the more they enter into the darkest region of hell, as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (16.20).

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· 2

The purport of SB 3.4.34 quotesBG 7.15

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (7.15), the miscreants who are simply concerned with material enjoyment, who work very hard like beasts of burden, can hardly know the Personality of Godhead at any stage due to āsurika-bhāva, or a spirit of revolt against the Supreme Lord.

The purport of SB 3.4.34 quotesBG 16.20

The more they discuss the transcendental appearance and disappearance of the Lord in the asuric spirit, the more they enter into the darkest region of hell, as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (16.20).

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

deha-nyāsamentering the body
caalso
tasyaHis
evamalso
dhīrāṇāmof great sages
dhairyaperseverance
vardhanamincreasing
anyeṣāmfor others

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: “understand”, “knowledge”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.4
In this verse: “devotees”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.4
In this verse: “material”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When I find the Lord’s pastimes difficult to understand, do I respond with respect or resistance?

Practice

Before studying today, pause and ask to approach the Lord’s pastimes with respect and a desire to serve Him.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Opens Understanding of the 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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