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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 5: Vidura’s Talks with Maitreya
3.4.363.5.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.5.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 3.5.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

श्री शुक उवाच

द्वारि द्युनद्या ऋषभ: कुरूणां

मैत्रेयमासीनमगाधबोधम् ।

क्षत्तोपसृत्याच्युतभावसिद्ध:

पप्रच्छ सौशील्यगुणाभितृप्त: ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

dvāri dyu-nadyā ṛṣabhaḥ kurūṇāṁ

maitreyam āsīnam agādha-bodham

kṣattopasṛtyācyuta-bhāva-siddhaḥ

papraccha sauśīlya-guṇābhitṛptaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Vidura, the best amongst the Kuru dynasty, who was perfect in devotional service to the Lord, thus reached the source of the celestial Ganges river [Hardwar], where Maitreya, the great, fathomless learned sage of the world, was seated. Vidura, who was perfect in gentleness and satisfied in transcendence, inquired from him.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Brings Perfection and Gentleness

  1. 1

    Vidura was already perfect through his unalloyed devotion to the infallible Lord. Absorption in devotional service frees one from conditioned life and brings admirable qualities.

  2. 2

    The Lord and the living entities are qualitatively the same, but the Lord is quantitatively much greater. He never falls under illusion, whereas living entities are prone to do so.

  3. 3

    Although a perfect devotee, Vidura approached the learned sage Maitreya for inquiry. His devotion was accompanied by gentleness and satisfaction in transcendence.

Key points from the purport
  • Vidura was already perfect due to his unalloyed devotion to the infallible Lord.
  • Vidura had already surpassed the fallible nature of the living entity in conditional life due to his being acyuta-bhāva, or legitimately absorbed in the devotional service of the Lord.
  • The learned sage Maitreya was sitting in a solitary place on the bank of the Ganges at Hardwar, and Vidura, who was a perfect devotee of the Lord and possessed all good transcendental qualities, approached him for inquiry.

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

Mystery → Cosmic wonder. The origin of the world is revealed through inquiry and divine grace.

Chapters 5–12 of Canto 3: Creation and Brahmā's bewilderment. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 5: Vidura’s Talks with Maitreya

Vidura meets Maitreya, who begins explaining the Lord’s activities and the unfolding of material creation.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.5
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. dvāriat the source of
  3. dyu-nadyāḥthe celestial river Ganges
  4. ṛṣabhaḥthe best of the Kurus
  5. kurūṇāmof the Kurus
  6. maitreyamunto Maitreya
  7. āsīnamsitting
  8. agādha-bodhamof unfathomed knowledge
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.5

    In this verse: “inquired”, “inquiry”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.5

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.5

    In this verse: “illusion”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I bring more gentleness to the way I ask spiritual questions?

Practice

Write one sincere question about devotional service, phrasing it gently and respectfully.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Brings Perfection and GentlenessThis 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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