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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
3.4.83.4.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.4.9

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

तस्मिन्महाभागवतो द्वैपायनसुहृत्सखा ।

लोकाननुचरन् सिद्ध आससाद यद‍ृच्छया ॥ ९ ॥

tasmin mahā-bhāgavato

dvaipāyana-suhṛt-sakhā

lokān anucaran siddha

āsasāda yadṛcchayā

Translation

At that time, after traveling in many parts of the world, Maitreya, a great devotee of the Lord and a friend and well-wisher of the great sage Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa, reached that spot out of his own perfect accord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Brings Fortunate Meetings

  1. 1

    Maitreya was a disciple of Maharṣi Parāśara and a friend and well-wisher of Vyāsadeva. During his travels, he reached the place where Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was resting.

  2. 2

    Meeting the Lord is not an ordinary incident. Although Maitreya was a great sage and scholar-philosopher, the purport distinguishes him from a pure devotee.

  3. 3

    His meeting may have resulted from ajñāta-sukṛti, or unknown devotional service. For pure devotees constantly engaged in devotional activities, meeting the Lord is natural.

Key points from the purport
  • By some fortunate accident, Maitreya reached the place where Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa was resting.
  • Maitreya was a great sage and a learned scholar-philosopher but not a pure devotee of the Lord, and therefore his meeting with the Lord at that time may have been due to ajñāta-sukṛti, or some unknown devotional service.
  • Pure devotees always engage in pure devotional activities, and therefore their meeting with the Lord is natural.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasminthen
  2. mahā-bhāgavataḥa great devotee of the Lord
  3. dvaipāyanaof Kṛṣṇa-dvaipāyana Vyāsa
  4. suhṛta well-wisher
  5. sakhāa friend
  6. lokānthe three worlds
  7. anucarantraveling
  8. siddhein that āśrama
  9. āsasādaarrived
  10. yadṛcchayāby his own perfect accord
3

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: “devotee”, “devotional service”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.4

    In this verse: “friend”

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

What value do I give to small opportunities for devotional service?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today specifically for devotional service to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Brings Fortunate MeetingsThis 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 3.4.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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