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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 7: Further Inquires by Vidura
3.7.373.7.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.7.38

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

पुरुषस्य च संस्थानं स्वरूपं वा परस्य च ।

ज्ञानं च नैगमं यत्तद्गुरुशिष्यप्रयोजनम् ॥ ३८ ॥

puruṣasya ca saṁsthānaṁ

svarūpaṁ vā parasya ca

jñānaṁ ca naigamaṁ yat tad

guru-śiṣya-prayojanam

Translation

What are the truths regarding the living entities and the Supreme Personality of Godhead? What are their identities? What are the specific values in the knowledge in the Vedas, and what are the necessities for the spiritual master and his disciples?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Our Real Identity Is the Lord's Servant

  1. 1

    Living entities are constitutionally servants of the Lord. He is the supreme enjoyer of sacrifices and penances, the proprietor of everything manifested and the friend of all living entities.

  2. 2

    When a living entity accepts the Lord's supreme proprietorship and acts accordingly, that person resumes their real identity.

  3. 3

    Spiritual association is needed to reach this understanding. The bona fide spiritual master teaches transcendental service, and disciples learn their eternal relationship with the Lord from a self-realized soul.

Key points from the purport
  • The living entities are constitutionally servitors of the Lord, who can accept all kinds of service from everyone.
  • Therefore, when the living entity accepts this supreme proprietorship of the Lord and acts in that attitude, he resumes his real identity.
  • The bona fide spiritual master desires that his disciples know the process of rendering transcendental service to the Lord, and the disciples also know that they have to learn about the eternal relationship between God and the living entity from a self-realized soul.

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 3.7.38 quotesBG 5.29

It is clearly declared that the Lord is the supreme enjoyer of the benefits of all sacrifices and penances, the proprietor of all that is manifested and the friend of all living entities.

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. puruṣasyaof the living entity
  2. caalso
  3. saṁsthānamexistence
  4. svarūpamidentity
  5. vāeither, or
  6. parasyaof the Supreme
  7. caalso
  8. jñānamknowledge
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.7

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understanding”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.7

    In this verse: “friend”

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

What would change in my actions if I remembered that the Lord is the proprietor and I am His servant?

Practice

Before using one possession today, pause to acknowledge the Lord's proprietorship and consider how it can be used in His service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOur Real Identity Is the Lord's ServantThis 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 3.7.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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