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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
3.4.53.4.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.4.6

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uddhavasince 3.3.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitUddhava → Vidura

अद्राक्षमेकमासीनं विचिन्वन् दयितं पतिम् ।

श्रीनिकेतं सरस्वत्यां कृतकेतमकेतनम् ॥ ६ ॥

adrākṣam ekam āsīnaṁ

vicinvan dayitaṁ patim

śrī-niketaṁ sarasvatyāṁ

kṛta-ketam aketanam

Translation

Thus following, I saw my patron and master [Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa] sitting alone and deeply thinking, taking shelter on the bank of the river Sarasvatī although He is the shelter of the goddess of fortune.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Is Everyone’s Shelter

  1. 1

    Uddhava saw Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa sitting alone and thinking deeply beside the Sarasvatī. He appeared to take shelter like someone in the renounced order of life.

  2. 2

    The Lord is the proprietor of everything. Everywhere is His shelter, and everything is under His shelter.

  3. 3

    He sustains the entire material and spiritual cosmic manifestation. Though He appeared unsheltered, He is the shelter of everything, including the goddess of fortune.

Key points from the purport
  • Those who are in the renounced order of life often take shelter underneath a tree.
  • The Lord was found by Uddhava in that condition of taking shelter as do persons who have no shelter.
  • So there was nothing astonishing in His taking shelter in the way of the unsheltered who are in the renounced order of life.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. adrākṣamI saw
  2. ekamalone
  3. āsīnamsitting
  4. vicinvandeeply thinking
  5. dayitampatron
  6. patimmaster
  7. śrī-niketamthe shelter of the goddess of fortune
  8. sarasvatyāmon the bank of the Sarasvatī
  9. kṛta-ketamtaking shelter
  10. aketanambeing situated without a shelter
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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

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.4

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 3.4

    In this verse: “renounced”

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 remembering the Lord as everyone’s shelter affect my sense of dependence on Him?

Practice

Pause today and remember that both you and your surroundings are sustained by the Lord.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Is Everyone’s ShelterThis 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 3.4.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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