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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
3.8.233.8.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.8.24

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

प्रेक्षां क्षिपन्तं हरितोपलाद्रे:

सन्ध्याभ्रनीवेरुरुरुक्‍ममूर्ध्न: ।

रत्नोदधारौषधिसौमनस्य

वनस्रजो वेणुभुजाङ्‌घ्रि पाङ्‌घ्रे : ॥ २४ ॥

prekṣāṁ kṣipantaṁ haritopalādreḥ

sandhyābhra-nīver uru-rukma-mūrdhnaḥ

ratnodadhārauṣadhi-saumanasya

vana-srajo veṇu-bhujāṅghripāṅghreḥ

Translation

The luster of the transcendental body of the Lord mocked the beauty of the coral mountain. The coral mountain is very beautifully dressed by the evening sky, but the yellow dress of the Lord mocked its beauty. There is gold on the summit of the mountain, but the Lord’s helmet, bedecked with jewels, mocked it. The mountain’s waterfalls, herbs, etc., with a panorama of flowers, seem like garlands, but the Lord’s gigantic body, and His hands and legs, decorated with jewels, pearls, tulasī leaves and flower garlands, mocked the scene on the mountain.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Beauty Surpasses Material Nature

  1. 1

    The Lord’s transcendental body, yellow dress, jeweled helmet and ornaments surpassed the beauty of a coral mountain.

  2. 2

    The wonderful beauty of nature may be understood as a perverted reflection of the Lord’s transcendental body.

  3. 3

    One attracted by the Lord’s beauty is no longer attracted by material beauty, though not minimizing it. Attraction to the Supreme leaves one no longer attracted by anything inferior.

Key points from the purport
  • The panoramic beauty of nature, which strikes one with wonder, may be taken as a perverted reflection of the transcendental body of the Lord.
  • One who is therefore attracted by the beauty of the Lord is no longer attracted by the beauty of material nature, although he does not minimize its beauty.
  • In Bhagavad-gītā (2.59) it is described that one who is attracted by param, the Supreme, is no longer attracted by anything inferior.

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 3.8.24 quotesBG 2.59

In Bhagavad-gītā (2.59) it is described that one who is attracted by param, the Supreme, is no longer attracted by anything inferior.

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 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. prekṣāmthe panorama
  2. kṣipantamderiding
  3. haritagreen
  4. upalacoral
  5. adreḥof the hill
  6. sandhyā-abhra-nīveḥof the dress of the evening sky
  7. urugreat
  8. rukmagold
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.8

    In this verse: “luster”, “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can the beauty I notice in nature remind me of the Lord’s greater beauty?

Practice

When you notice something beautiful in nature today, recall one detail of the Lord’s beauty described here.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Beauty Surpasses Material NatureThis 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.

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