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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
3.8.63.8.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.8.7

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

प्रोक्तं किलैतद्भगवत्तमेन

निवृत्तिधर्माभिरताय तेन ।

सनत्कुमाराय स चाह पृष्ट:

सांख्यायनायाङ्ग धृतव्रताय ॥ ७ ॥

proktaṁ kilaitad bhagavattamena

nivṛtti-dharmābhiratāya tena

sanat-kumārāya sa cāha pṛṣṭaḥ

sāṅkhyāyanāyāṅga dhṛta-vratāya

Translation

Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa thus spoke the purport of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam to the great sage Sanat-kumāra, who had already taken the vow of renunciation. Sanat-kumāra also, in his turn, when inquired of by Sāṅkhyāyana Muni, explained Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as he had heard it from Saṅkarṣaṇa.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear Faithfully Before Sharing

  1. 1

    Although Sanat-kumāra was already in the perfect stage of life, he heard Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa.

  2. 2

    When Sāṅkhyāyana inquired, Sanat-kumāra repeated the same message he had heard. This is the paramparā system.

  3. 3

    One must hear from proper authority before becoming a preacher. Hearing and chanting are especially important in devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • Although Sanat-kumāra, the well-known great saintly Kumāra, was in the perfect stage of life, still he heard the message of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa.
  • Similarly, when he was questioned by Sāṅkhyāyana Ṛṣi, he spoke to him the same message he had heard from Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa.
  • Without hearing nicely, one cannot preach the message of Vedic knowledge.

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. proktamwas said
  2. kilacertainly
  3. etatthis
  4. bhagavattamenaby Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa
  5. nivṛttirenunciation
  6. dharma-abhiratāyaunto one who has taken this religious vow
  7. tenaby Him
  8. sanat-kumārāyaunto Sanat-kumāra
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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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.8

    In this verse: “heard”, “chanting”, “hearing”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “inquired”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.8

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How carefully do you hear before trying to explain spiritual teachings?

Practice

Listen carefully to a short Bhāgavatam teaching from proper authority, then summarize it without adding your own ideas.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.8's connections

Live this todayHear Faithfully Before SharingThis 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 3.8.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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