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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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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
3.4.73.4.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.4.8

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

वाम ऊरावधिश्रित्य दक्षिणाङ्‌घ्रि सरोरुहम् ।

अपाश्रितार्भकाश्वत्थमकृशं त्यक्तपिप्पलम् ॥ ८ ॥

vāma ūrāv adhiśritya

dakṣiṇāṅghri-saroruham

apāśritārbhakāśvattham

akṛśaṁ tyakta-pippalam

Translation

The Lord was sitting, taking rest against a young banyan tree, with His right lotus foot on His left thigh, and although He had left all household comforts, He looked quite cheerful in that posture.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Remains Eternally Blissful

  1. 1

    The Lord rested against a young banyan tree, with His right lotus foot on His left thigh. Though He had left household comforts, He remained cheerful.

  2. 2

    The banyan tree represents material energies, products of His external potency, kept behind His back. Its small size represents this universe as the smallest of all.

  3. 3

    The Lord had finished His pastimes in this universe and was prepared to go to another. Because He is absolute and eternally blissful, accepting or leaving something does not change His condition.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, the Lord’s sitting posture — keeping His back against the newly grown banyan tree — is also meaningful.
  • The material energies represented by the banyan tree are all products of His external potency and are therefore kept to His back.
  • And because this particular universe is the smallest of all, the banyan tree is therefore designated as small, or as a child.

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. vāmeon the left
  2. ūrauthigh
  3. adhiśrityaplaced on
  4. dakṣiṇa-aṅghri-saroruhamthe right lotus foot
  5. apāśritataking rest against
  6. arbhakayoung
  7. aśvatthambanyan tree
  8. akṛśamcheerful
  9. tyaktahaving left
  10. pippalamhousehold comforts
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “household”, “material”

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 the Lord’s cheerfulness reveal that His bliss does not depend on household comforts?

Practice

Reflect for one minute on the Lord’s cheerful posture and His unchanging bliss.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Remains Eternally BlissfulThis 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 3.4.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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