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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
3.6.23.6.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.6.3

Sarga· Creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.6.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

सोऽनुप्रविष्टो भगवांश्चेष्टारूपेण तं गणम् ।

भिन्नं संयोजयमास सुप्तं कर्म प्रबोधयन् ॥ ३ ॥

so ’nupraviṣṭo bhagavāṁś

ceṣṭārūpeṇa taṁ gaṇam

bhinnaṁ saṁyojayām āsa

suptaṁ karma prabodhayan

Translation

Thus when the Personality of Godhead entered into the elements by His energy, all the living entities were enlivened into different activities, just as one is engaged in his work after awakening from sleep.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Awaken Desires for Devotional Service

  1. 1

    When the Lord entered the elements, living entities awakened to activity as if rising from sleep. Each creation gives conditioned souls another opportunity for liberation.

  2. 2

    The Supersoul witnesses past desires and reminds the soul of them in the next life. Acting on unfinished material desires continues material bondage.

  3. 3

    Studying Vedic wisdom reveals the soul’s relationship with the Lord and leads to devotional service. Life becomes perfect when desires are trained in His service, leading to eternal awakened life in the spiritual sky.

Key points from the purport
  • Every individual soul remains unconscious after the dissolution of the creation and thus enters into the Lord with His material energy.
  • After the dissolution of a particular body, the individual soul forgets everything, but the all-merciful Lord, who is situated in everyone’s heart as the witness, the Supersoul, awakens him and reminds him of his past desires, and thus he begins to act accordingly in his next life.
  • After the dissolution of the partial material body, a living entity remains unconscious for only a few months, and after the total dissolution of the material creation, he remains unconscious for many millions of years.

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. saḥthat
  2. anupraviṣṭaḥthus entering later on
  3. bhagavānthe Personality of Godhead
  4. ceṣṭā-rūpeṇaby His representation of attempt, Kālī
  5. tamthem
  6. gaṇamall the living entities, including the demigods
  7. bhinnamseparately
  8. saṁyojayām āsaengaged to work
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: “wisdom”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.6

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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

Which desire could I begin directing toward the Lord’s service?

Practice

Read this purport for a few minutes today, then write down one desire you want to train in the Lord’s service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAwaken Desires for Devotional ServiceThis 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 3.6.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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