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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
  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 6: Creation of the Universal Form
3.6.283.6.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.6.29

Sthāna· The universe in order
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

तार्तीयेन स्वभावेन भगवन्नाभिमाश्रिता: ।

उभयोरन्तरं व्योम ये रुद्रपार्षदां गणा: ॥ २९ ॥

tārtīyena svabhāvena

bhagavan-nābhim āśritāḥ

ubhayor antaraṁ vyoma

ye rudra-pārṣadāṁ gaṇāḥ

Translation

Living entities who are associates of Rudra develop in the third mode of material nature, or ignorance. They are situated in the sky between the earthly planets and the heavenly planets.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Qualities Shape One's Place in the Universe

  1. 1

    The associates of Rudra develop in the mode of ignorance and dwell in the sky between the earthly and heavenly planets. This region is called Bhuvarloka.

  2. 2

    Goodness leads to the regions of the demigods, passion to human society, and ignorance to the society of animals or ghosts.

  3. 3

    Numerous living entities are distributed throughout the universe on different planets. Their situations correspond to their own qualities in the modes of material nature.

Key points from the purport
  • In Bhagavad-gītā it is stated that those who develop in the mode of passion are situated in the middle region.
  • Those who are situated in the mode of goodness are promoted to the regions of the demigods, those who are situated in the mode of passion are placed in human society, and those who are situated in the mode of ignorance are placed in the society of animals or ghosts.
  • Numerous living entities are distributed all over the universe in different planets and are so situated in terms of their own qualities in the modes of material nature.

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 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. tārtīyenaby excessive development of the third mode of material nature, the mode of ignorance
  2. svabhāvenaby such nature
  3. bhagavat-nābhimthe abdominal navel of the gigantic form of the Personality of Godhead
  4. āśritāḥthose who are so situated
  5. ubhayoḥbetween the two
  6. antaramin between
  7. vyomathe sky
  8. yeall of whom
  9. rudra-pārṣadāmassociates of Rudra
  10. gaṇāḥpopulation
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.6

    In this verse: “material”

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 teaching encourage me to pay attention to the qualities I develop?

Practice

Make a short list of goodness, passion and ignorance, noting the situations associated with each in the purport.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayQualities Shape One's Place in the UniverseThis 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 3.6.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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