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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 3 · Chapter 6: Creation of the Universal Form
3.6.333.6.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.6.34

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
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

एते वर्णा: स्वधर्मेण यजन्ति स्वगुरुं हरिम् ।

श्रद्धयात्मविशुद्ध्यर्थं यज्जाता: सह वृत्तिभि: ॥ ३४ ॥

ete varṇāḥ sva-dharmeṇa

yajanti sva-guruṁ harim

śraddhayātma-viśuddhy-arthaṁ

yaj-jātāḥ saha vṛttibhiḥ

Translation

All these different social divisions are born, with their occupational duties and living conditions, from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus for unconditional life and self-realization one has to worship the Supreme Lord under the direction of the spiritual master.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Worship Under a Spiritual Master’s Guidance

  1. 1

    All social divisions and their duties arise from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Like parts of a body serving the whole, all living beings are meant to serve Him.

  2. 2

    The conditioned soul mistakenly thinks he can become supreme. The Supreme Lord cannot be overcome by illusion, whereas conditioned living beings need purification.

  3. 3

    Actual purification comes through worshiping the Lord under a bona fide spiritual master who is qualified as a brāhmaṇa and is also a Vaiṣṇava. Other methods may help, but perfection culminates in this devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • Since they are born from different parts of the body of the Supreme Lord in His gigantic form, all living entities in all parts of the entire universe are supposed to be eternal servitors of the supreme body.
  • In conditioned life the soul is under the impression that he can become the lord of the universe, and the last point of this misconception is to think oneself the Supreme.
  • Therefore, because the living entities are conditioned, they cannot be supreme.

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 3.6.34 quotesBG 7.19

Bhagavad-gītā (7.19) confirms this truth as follows:

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 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. eteall these
  2. varṇāḥorders of society
  3. sva-dharmeṇaby one’s own occupational duties
  4. yajantiworship
  5. sva-gurumwith the spiritual master
  6. harimthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  7. śraddhayāwith faith and devotion
  8. ātmaself
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”, “devotional service”, “worshiping”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.6

    In this verse: “duties”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.6

    In this verse: “purification”

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

Am I willing to receive guidance in serving the Lord rather than treating myself as the highest authority?

Practice

Reread this purport’s instruction on guided worship and write down one teaching you can apply to your service today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWorship Under a Spiritual Master’s GuidanceThis 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 3.6.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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