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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

3.8.19 3.8.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.8.20

Nirodha· Winding up

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

तमस्यपारे विदुरात्मसर्गं

विचिन्वतोऽभूत्सुमहांस्त्रिणेमि: ।

यो देहभाजां भयमीरयाण:

परिक्षिणोत्यायुरजस्य हेति: ॥ २० ॥

tamasy apāre vidurātma-sargaṁ

vicinvato ’bhūt sumahāṁs tri-ṇemiḥ

yo deha-bhājāṁ bhayam īrayāṇaḥ

parikṣiṇoty āyur ajasya hetiḥ

Translation

O Vidura, while searching in that way about his existence, Brahmā reached his ultimate time, which is the eternal wheel in the hand of Viṣṇu and which generates fear in the mind of the living entity like the fear of death.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Time Is in Viṣṇu’s Hand

1
Brahmā continued searching for the cause of his existence and reached his ultimate time.
2
The verse describes time as the eternal wheel in the hand of Viṣṇu.
3
This time generates fear in the living entity’s mind, like the fear of death.

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tamasi apārebecause of an ignorant way of searching
viduraO Vidura
ātma-sargamthe cause of his creation
vicinvataḥwhile contemplating
abhūtit so became
su-mahānvery great
tri-nemiḥtime of three dimensions
yaḥwhich

Key ideas in this verse

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

Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead
What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10
Abhaya · Fearlessness
Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.8
In this verse: “fear”, “death”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does remembering that time is in Viṣṇu’s hand affect my response to fear?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute reflecting on the verse’s image of eternal time in Viṣṇu’s hand.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTime Is in Viṣṇu’s HandThis 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 3.8.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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