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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
3.8.283.8.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.8.29

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

परार्ध्यकेयूरमणिप्रवेक-

पर्यस्तदोर्दण्डसहस्रशाखम् ।

अव्यक्तमूलं भुवनाङ्‌घ्रि पेन्द्र-

महीन्द्रभोगैरधिवीतवल्शम् ॥ २९ ॥

parārdhya-keyūra-maṇi-praveka-

paryasta-dordaṇḍa-sahasra-śākham

avyakta-mūlaṁ bhuvanāṅghripendram

ahīndra-bhogair adhivīta-valśam

Translation

As a sandalwood tree is decorated with fragrant flowers and branches, the Lord’s body was decorated with valuable jewels and pearls. He was the self-situated tree, the Lord of all others in the universe. And as a sandalwood tree is covered with many snakes, so the Lord’s body was also covered by the hoods of Ananta.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Is His Own Support

  1. 1

    The Lord’s jeweled and pearl-decorated body was compared to a sandalwood tree with fragrant flowers and branches. The hoods of Ananta covered Him.

  2. 2

    Unlike an ordinary tree whose roots are unseen, the Lord is His own root. No separate cause supports His existence.

  3. 3

    The Vedas describe Him as svāśrayāśraya: He is His own support. Here avyakta refers to the Supreme Lord Himself and no one else.

Key points from the purport
  • But as far as the Lord is concerned, He is the root of Himself because there is no other separate cause of His standing but He Himself.
  • In the Vedas it is said that the Lord is svāśrayāśraya: He is His own support, and there is no other support for Him.
  • Therefore, avyakta means the Supreme Lord Himself and no one else.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. parārdhyavery valuable
  2. keyūraornaments
  3. maṇi-pravekahighly valuable jewels
  4. paryastadisseminating
  5. dordaṇḍaarms
  6. sahasra-śākhamwith thousands of branches
  7. avyakta-mūlamself-situated
  8. bhuvanauniversal
3

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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does knowing that the Lord needs no other support shape my understanding of Him?

Practice

Pause today to reflect on this teaching: the Supreme Lord is His own support and has no separate cause.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Is His Own SupportThis 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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