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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 8: Manifestation of Brahmā from Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu
3.8.163.8.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.8.17

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.8.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तस्माद्युगान्तश्वसनावघूर्ण-

जलोर्मिचक्रात्सलिलाद्विरूढम् ।

उपाश्रित: कञ्जमु लोकतत्त्वं

नात्मानमद्धाविददादिदेव: ॥ १७ ॥

tasmād yugānta-śvasanāvaghūrṇa-

jalormi-cakrāt salilād virūḍham

upāśritaḥ kañjam u loka-tattvaṁ

nātmānam addhāvidad ādi-devaḥ

Translation

Lord Brahmā, situated in that lotus, could not perfectly understand the creation, the lotus or himself. At the end of the millennium the air of devastation began to move the water and the lotus in great circular waves.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Understanding Requires the Supreme Lord’s Help

  1. 1

    Brahmā could not perfectly understand himself, the lotus or the creation, even after trying for one millennium.

  2. 2

    At the end of the millennium, the air of devastation moved the water and lotus in great circular waves. Brahmā remained perplexed about the mystery of creation.

  3. 3

    Mental speculation alone cannot reveal the mystery of the cosmic manifestation. With our limited capacity, we need the Supreme Lord’s help to understand His will in creation, continuance and destruction.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Brahmā was perplexed about his creation, the lotus and the world, even though he tried to understand them for one millennium, which is beyond calculation in the solar years of human beings.
  • No one, therefore, can know the mystery of the creation and cosmic manifestation simply by mental speculation.
  • The human being is so limited in his capacity that without the help of the Supreme he can hardly understand the mystery of the will of the Lord in terms of creation, continuance and destruction.

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 8: Manifestation of Brahmā from Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu

Brahmā searches for his origin upon the lotus arising from Viṣṇu and beholds the Lord.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.8
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasmātfrom there
  2. yuga-antaat the end of the millennium
  3. śvasanathe air of devastation
  4. avaghūrṇabecause of movement
  5. jalawater
  6. ūrmi-cakrātout of the circle of waves
  7. salilātfrom the water
  8. virūḍhamsituated on them
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.8

    In this verse: “understand”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where am I relying on speculation without acknowledging the limits of my understanding?

Practice

Before studying today, pause and ask the Supreme Lord for help in understanding His will.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnderstanding Requires the Supreme Lord’s HelpThis 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 3.8.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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