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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
3.9.193.9.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.9.20

Nirodha· Winding up
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

योऽविद्ययानुपहतोऽपि दशार्धवृत्त्या

निद्रामुवाह जठरीकृतलोकयात्र: ।

अन्तर्जलेऽहिकशिपुस्पर्शानुकूलां

भीमोर्मिमालिनि जनस्य सुखं विवृण्वन् ॥ २० ॥

yo ’vidyayānupahato ’pi daśārdha-vṛttyā

nidrām uvāha jaṭharī-kṛta-loka-yātraḥ

antar-jale ’hi-kaśipu-sparśānukūlāṁ

bhīmormi-mālini janasya sukhaṁ vivṛṇvan

Translation

My Lord, You accept the pleasure of sleeping in the water of devastation, where there are violent waves, and You enjoy pleasure on the bed of snakes, showing the happiness of Your sleep to intelligent persons. At that time, all the universal planets are stationed within Your abdomen.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Is Beyond Material Limitations

  1. 1

    The Lord sleeps happily on His serpent bed amid the violent waters of devastation. At that time, all the universal planets rest within His abdomen.

  2. 2

    People who cannot think beyond their own power may dismiss this as legend. Yet even small living entities can live and enjoy within water.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Lord is all-powerful, and His activities are transcendental. Neither time, space nor material circumstances can prevent His happiness.

Key points from the purport
  • Persons who cannot think of anything beyond the limit of their own power are like frogs in a well who cannot imagine the length and breadth of the great Pacific Ocean.
  • There are many living entities within the bed of the ocean who also enjoy the material bodily activities of eating, sleeping, defending and mating.
  • If such insignificant living entities can enjoy life within the water, why can’t the Supreme Lord, who is all-powerful, sleep on the cool body of a serpent and enjoy in the turmoil of violent ocean waves?

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 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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥone
  2. avidyayāinfluenced by nescience
  3. anupahataḥwithout being affected
  4. apiin spite of
  5. daśa-ardhafive
  6. vṛttyāinteraction
  7. nidrāmsleep
  8. uvāhaaccepted
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “material”

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

Where might I be limiting my understanding of the Lord to what I can personally do?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once today, remembering that the Lord is not limited by your abilities.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Is Beyond Material LimitationsThis 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 3.9.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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