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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 6: Creation of the Universal Form
3.6.253.6.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.6.26

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

सत्त्वं चास्य विनिर्भिन्नं महान्धिष्ण्यमुपाविशत् ।

चित्तेनांशेन येनासौ विज्ञानं प्रतिपद्यते ॥ २६ ॥

sattvaṁ cāsya vinirbhinnaṁ

mahān dhiṣṇyam upāviśat

cittenāṁśena yenāsau

vijñānaṁ pratipadyate

Translation

Thereafter, when His consciousness separately manifested itself, the total energy, mahat-tattva, entered with His conscious part. Thus the living entity is able to conceive specific knowledge.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Consciousness Enables Specific Knowledge

  1. 1

    The consciousness of the gigantic form separately manifested itself.

  2. 2

    The total energy, mahat-tattva, entered with His conscious part.

  3. 3

    Through this arrangement, the living entity is able to conceive specific knowledge.

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 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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sattvamconsciousness
  2. caalso
  3. asyaof the gigantic form
  4. vinirbhinnambeing separately manifested
  5. mahānthe total energy, mahat-tattva
  6. dhiṣṇyamwith control
  7. upāviśatentered into
  8. cittena aṁśenaalong with His part of consciousness
3

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: “knowledge”

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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this verse connect consciousness with my ability to know something specific?

Practice

Write down the name mahat-tattva and its description here: the total energy.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayConsciousness Enables Specific KnowledgeThis 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 3.6.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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