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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 9: Brahmā’s Prayers for Creative Energy
3.9.123.9.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.9.13

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 3.9.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

पुंसामतो विविधकर्मभिरध्वराद्यै-

र्दानेन चोग्रतपसा परिचर्यया च ।

आराधनं भगवतस्तव सत्क्रियार्थो

धर्मोऽर्पित: कर्हिचिद्‌म्रियते न यत्र ॥ १३ ॥

puṁsām ato vividha-karmabhir adhvarādyair

dānena cogra-tapasā paricaryayā ca

ārādhanaṁ bhagavatas tava sat-kriyārtho

dharmo ’rpitaḥ karhicid mriyate na yatra

Translation

But the pious activities of the people, such as performance of Vedic rituals, charity, austere penances and transcendental service, performed with a view to worship You and satisfy You by offering You the fruitive results, are also beneficial. Such acts of religion never go in vain.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offer Your Results for Lasting Spiritual Benefit

  1. 1

    Some people are more attracted to costly religious ceremonies than to hearing, chanting, remembering and other activities of devotional service. Still, the fruits of all pious activities should be offered to the Supreme Lord.

  2. 2

    Offering the results of pious acts to the Lord is a sign of devotional service and has permanent value. Enjoying those results only for oneself brings temporary benefit.

  3. 3

    Anything done for the Lord becomes a lasting spiritual asset. By His grace, such activities gradually lead to pure devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • This offering of the results of pious acts unto the Supreme Lord is a sign of devotional service to the Lord and is of permanent value, whereas enjoying the same results for oneself is only temporary.
  • These undetected pious activities will one day result in full-fledged devotional service by the grace of the Supreme Lord.
  • Therefore, any pious act done on account of the Supreme Lord is also recommended here for those who are not pure devotees.

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 3.9.13 quotesBG 9.27

In Bhagavad-gītā (9.27), the Lord demands that whatever one may do in one’s daily activities, such as worship, sacrifice, and offering charity, all the results should be offered to Him only.

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 9: Brahmā’s Prayers for Creative Energy

Brahmā prays for mercy and creative power, and the Lord instructs and blesses him.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. puṁsāmof the people
  2. ataḥtherefore
  3. vividha-karmabhiḥby various fruitive activities
  4. adhvara-ādyaiḥby performance of Vedic rituals
  5. dānenaby charities
  6. caand
  7. ugravery hard
  8. tapasāausterity
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “worship”, “devotional service”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “religion”, “religious”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which activity today could I do for the Lord’s satisfaction rather than only for my own benefit?

Practice

Choose one daily activity and, before beginning, offer its results to the Supreme Lord for His satisfaction.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOffer Your Results for Lasting Spiritual BenefitThis 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 3.9.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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