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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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
3.5.393.5.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.5.40

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The demigodssince 3.5.39inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

धातर्यदस्मिन् भव ईश जीवा-

स्तापत्रयेणाभिहता न शर्म ।

आत्मन्लभन्ते भगवंस्तवाङ्‌घ्रि-

च्छायां सविद्यामत आश्रयेम ॥ ४० ॥

dhātar yad asmin bhava īśa jīvās

tāpa-trayeṇābhihatā na śarma

ātman labhante bhagavaṁs tavāṅghri-

cchāyāṁ sa-vidyām ata āśrayema

Translation

O Father, O Lord, O Personality of Godhead, the living entities in the material world can never have any happiness because they are overwhelmed by the three kinds of miseries. Therefore they take shelter of the shade of Your lotus feet, which are full of knowledge, and we also thus take shelter of them.

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 Knowledge and Happiness

  1. 1

    Conditioned life brings suffering from the body and mind, other living beings, and natural or supernatural disturbances. Material happiness is a struggle to escape these miseries.

  2. 2

    Devotional service is neither sentimental nor mundane; it is the path of reality. Shelter at the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s lotus feet brings transcendental happiness.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s lotus feet are full of transcendental knowledge. He personally removes ignorance from His devotee’s heart, whereas knowledge pursued without devotion cannot relieve material miseries.

Key points from the purport
  • It is the path of reality by which the living entity can attain the transcendental happiness of being freed from the three kinds of material miseries — miseries arising from the body and mind, from other living entities and from natural disturbances.
  • The argument that unless one has proper knowledge one cannot be freed from material miseries is undoubtedly true.
  • But because the lotus feet of the Lord are full of transcendental knowledge, acceptance of His lotus feet completes that necessity.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 3.5.40 quotesBG 10.10

He confirms this in Bhagavad-gītā (10.10): Empiric philosophical speculation cannot give one relief from the threefold miseries of material existence.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. dhātaḥO father
  2. yatbecause
  3. asminin this
  4. bhavematerial world
  5. īśaO Lord
  6. jīvāḥthe living entities
  7. tāpamiseries
  8. trayeṇaby the three
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does my search for knowledge bring me closer to devotional service?

Practice

Reread one sentence from this purport and pray to the Lord for understanding that supports your devotion.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Brings Knowledge and HappinessThis 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 3.5.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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