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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
3.5.233.5.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.5.24

Sarga· Creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.5.18inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

स वा एष तदा द्रष्टा नापश्यद् द‍ृश्यमेकराट् ।

मेनेऽसन्तमिवात्मानं सुप्तशक्तिरसुप्तद‍ृक् ॥ २४ ॥

sa vā eṣa tadā draṣṭā

nāpaśyad dṛśyam ekarāṭ

mene ’santam ivātmānaṁ

supta-śaktir asupta-dṛk

Translation

The Lord, the undisputed proprietor of everything, was the only seer. The cosmic manifestation was not present at that time, and thus He felt imperfect without His plenary and separated parts and parcels. The material energy was dormant, whereas the internal potency was manifested.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Creation Offers a Chance to Return

  1. 1

    The Lord is the supreme seer, whose glance activates material energy. His feeling of insufficiency is expressed through a poetic comparison, not as an ordinary material limitation.

  2. 2

    The Lord creates out of kindness toward conditioned souls dormant in forgetfulness. The main purpose of the cosmic manifestation is to give them another chance to return to Godhead.

  3. 3

    The whole process aims to awaken conditioned souls to spiritual consciousness. The Lord wants His parts and parcels to share in His eternal spiritual bliss.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord is the supreme seer because only by His glance did the material energy become active for cosmic manifestation.
  • The Lord wanted to create the cosmic manifestation to give another chance to the conditioned souls who were dormant in forgetfulness.
  • The Lord is so kind that in the absence of such a manifestation He feels something wanting, and thus the creation takes place.

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. saḥthe Personality of Godhead
  2. vāeither
  3. eṣaḥall these
  4. tadāat that time
  5. draṣṭāthe seer
  6. nadid not
  7. apaśyatsee
  8. dṛśyamthe cosmic creation
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Sarga · The creation of the universe

    Where does the universe come from? · Subject 1 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 3.5

    In this verse: “separated”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “kindness”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I using my present opportunity to awaken spiritually and return to the Lord?

Practice

Spend two quiet minutes remembering that this life offers a chance to return to Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.5's connections

Live this todayCreation Offers a Chance to ReturnThis 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 3.5.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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