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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 7: Further Inquires by Vidura
3.7.83.7.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.7.9

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.7.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

सेयं भगवतो माया यन्नयेन विरुध्यते ।

ईश्वरस्य विमुक्तस्य कार्पण्यमुत बन्धनम् ॥ ९ ॥

maitreya uvāca

seyaṁ bhagavato māyā

yan nayena virudhyate

īśvarasya vimuktasya

kārpaṇyam uta bandhanam

Translation

Śrī Maitreya said: Certain conditioned souls put forward the theory that the Supreme Brahman, or the Personality of Godhead, is overcome by illusion, or māyā, and at the same time they maintain that He is unconditioned. This is against all logic.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Is Never Overpowered by Māyā

  1. 1

    The material energy belongs to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but He is never overpowered by it. Calling Him both unconditioned and overcome by illusion contradicts logic.

  2. 2

    Living entities are the Lord’s energy, not the energetic source. Like sunrays covered by clouds, they can be overcome by material energy through misuse of their minute independence.

  3. 3

    The Lord remains apart from material influence while creating, maintaining and annihilating the universe through His agencies. Those who sincerely engage in His transcendental loving service can understand His difficult activities to some extent.

Key points from the purport
  • The energy and the energetic Personality of Godhead are not different, and although such energy is one with the Lord, He is never overpowered by it.
  • Although the living entities are also parts and parcels of the Lord, they are overcome by the material energy.
  • Similarly, although the living entities are qualitatively one with the superior energy of the Lord, they have the tendency to be overpowered by the inferior, material energy.

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 3.7.9 quotesBG 9.5

The inconceivable yogam aiśvaram of the Lord, as mentioned in Bhagavad-gītā (9.5), is misunderstood by the froggish philosophers.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. maitreyaḥ uvācaMaitreya said
  2. sā iyamsuch a statement
  3. bhagavataḥof the Personality of Godhead
  4. māyāillusion
  5. yatthat which
  6. nayenaby logic
  7. virudhyatebecomes contradictory
  8. īśvarasyaof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.7

    In this verse: “illusion”, “māyā”, “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

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 can I approach the Lord’s inconceivable activities with a sincere desire to serve rather than equating Him with myself?

Practice

Reflect for one minute on the sun-and-cloud example, then offer a brief prayer for sincere loving service to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Is Never Overpowered by MāyāThis 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 3.7.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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