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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 6: Creation of the Universal Form

3.6.22 3.6.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.6.23

Sarga· Creation

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.6.11inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

बुद्धिं चास्य विनिर्भिन्नां वागीशो धिष्ण्यमाविशत् ।

बोधेनांशेन बोद्धव्यम् प्रतिपत्तिर्यतो भवेत् ॥ २३ ॥

buddhiṁ cāsya vinirbhinnāṁ

vāg-īśo dhiṣṇyam āviśat

bodhenāṁśena boddhavyam

pratipattir yato bhavet

Translation

When the intelligence of the gigantic form separately became manifest, Brahmā, the lord of the Vedas, entered into it with the partial power of understanding, and thus an object of understanding is experienced by the living entities.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Intelligence Makes Understanding Possible

1
The intelligence of the gigantic form became separately manifest.
2
Brahmā, the lord of the Vedas, entered it with the partial power of understanding.
3
Through this arrangement, living entities can experience an object of understanding.

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

Chapter 6: Creation of the Universal Form

The Lord enters the material elements, manifesting the universal form with its senses, deities, and social orders.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.6

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

buddhimintelligence
caalso
asyaof the gigantic form
vinirbhinnāmbeing separately manifested
vāk-īśaḥBrahmā, lord of the Vedas
dhiṣṇyamthe controlling power
āviśatentered in
bodhena aṁśenawith his part of intelligence

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
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.6
In this verse: “understanding”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How often do I pause to appreciate the ability to understand something?

Practice

Read the translation slowly and explain its teaching in one sentence to exercise your understanding.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayIntelligence Makes Understanding PossibleThis 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 3.6.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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