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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 7: Further Inquires by Vidura
3.7.343.7.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.7.35

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vidurasince 3.7.15inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

येन वा भगवांस्तुष्येद्धर्मयोनिर्जनार्दन: ।

सम्प्रसीदति वा येषामेतदाख्याहि मेऽनघ ॥ ३५ ॥

yena vā bhagavāṁs tuṣyed

dharma-yonir janārdanaḥ

samprasīdati vā yeṣām

etad ākhyāhi me ’nagha

Translation

O sinless one, because the Personality of Godhead, the controller of all living entities, is the father of all religion and all those who are candidates for religious activities, kindly describe how He can be completely satisfied.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Religion Aims to Satisfy the Lord

  1. 1

    All religious activities are ultimately meant to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the father of all religious principles and the controller of all living entities.

  2. 2

    The needy, distressed, enlightened and inquisitive approach the Lord in devotional service, though their devotion is mixed with material affection. Pure devotees are above them because their devotion is untouched by fruitive work or speculative knowledge.

  3. 3

    Academic education alone does not qualify someone to satisfy the Lord. The purport describes those who remain miscreants as bereft of knowledge despite their education.

Key points from the purport
  • All religious activities are meant ultimately to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • The Lord is the father of all religious principles.
  • Such miscreants are never candidates for satisfying the Lord.

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· 2

The purport of SB 3.7.35 quotesBG 7.16

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (7.16), four kinds of pious men — the needy, the distressed, the enlightened and the inquisitive — approach the Lord in devotional service, and their devotion is mixed with material affection.

The purport of SB 3.7.35 quotesBG 7.15

Those who are only miscreants throughout their lives are compared to demons.

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 7: Further Inquires by Vidura

Vidura asks about illusion, the soul, creation, religious duties, and the relationship between teacher and disciple.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yenaby which
  2. vāeither
  3. bhagavānthe Personality of Godhead
  4. tuṣyetis satisfied
  5. dharma-yoniḥthe father of all religion
  6. janārdanaḥthe controller of all living being
  7. samprasīdaticompletely satisfied
  8. vāeither, or
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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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.7

    In this verse: “religion”, “religious”, “principles”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.7

    In this verse: “kindly”, “distressed”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.7

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

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

Is my religious effort directed toward satisfying the Lord or obtaining something for myself?

Practice

Before one devotional activity today, pause and make satisfying the Lord your intention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReligion Aims to Satisfy the LordThis 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 3.7.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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