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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 5: Vidura’s Talks with Maitreya
3.5.143.5.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.5.15

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vidurasince 3.5.2inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तदस्य कौषारव शर्मदातु-

र्हरे: कथामेव कथासु सारम् ।

उद्‍धृत्य पुष्पेभ्य इवार्तबन्धो

शिवाय न: कीर्तय तीर्थकीर्ते: ॥ १५ ॥

tad asya kauṣārava śarma-dātur

hareḥ kathām eva kathāsu sāram

uddhṛtya puṣpebhya ivārta-bandho

śivāya naḥ kīrtaya tīrtha-kīrteḥ

Translation

O Maitreya, O friend of the distressed, the glories of the Supreme Lord can alone do good for people all over the world. Therefore, just as bees collect honey from flowers, kindly describe the essence of all topics — the topics of the Lord.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek the Essence: Topics of the Lord

  1. 1

    As bees collect honey from flowers, Vidura asks Maitreya to gather the essence of all topics. That essence is discussion of the Supreme Lord.

  2. 2

    Material interests lead people toward sense gratification or mental speculation. Disbelief and an exclusively impersonal understanding leave them without interest in the Lord’s personal glories.

  3. 3

    For a pure devotee like Vidura, talks of Kṛṣṇa are essential. The glories of the Supreme Lord bring welfare to people throughout the world.

Key points from the purport
  • There are many topics for different persons in different modes of material nature, but the essential topics are those in relationship with the Supreme Lord.
  • Both the nonbelievers and the impersonalists deny the essence of all topics; therefore, they engage in topics of relativity in various ways, either in sense gratification or in mental speculation.
  • Thus Vidura requested Maitreya to talk of the essence only, the talks of Kṛṣṇa, and nothing else.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tattherefore
  2. asyaHis
  3. kauṣāravaO Maitreya
  4. śarma-dātuḥof one who awards good fortune
  5. hareḥof the Lord
  6. kathāmtopics
  7. evaonly
  8. kathāsuof all topics
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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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.5

    In this verse: “kindly”, “distressed”, “welfare”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.5

    In this verse: “friend”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which topics nourish my interest in the Lord rather than merely occupy my attention?

Practice

Choose one passage about Kṛṣṇa today and read it attentively, seeking its essential teaching about Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek the Essence: Topics 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.5.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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