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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 9: Brahmā’s Prayers for Creative Energy
3.9.203.9.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.9.21

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
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

यन्नाभिपद्मभवनादहमासमीड्य

लोकत्रयोपकरणो यदनुग्रहेण ।

तस्मै नमस्त उदरस्थभवाय योग-

निद्रावसानविकसन्नलिनेक्षणाय ॥ २१ ॥

yan-nābhi-padma-bhavanād aham āsam īḍya

loka-trayopakaraṇo yad-anugraheṇa

tasmai namas ta udara-stha-bhavāya yoga-

nidrāvasāna-vikasan-nalinekṣaṇāya

Translation

O object of my worship, I am born from the house of Your lotus navel for the purpose of creating the universe by Your mercy. All these planets of the universe were stationed within Your transcendental abdomen while You were enjoying sleep. Now, Your sleep having ended, Your eyes are open like blossoming lotuses in the morning.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Begin the Day With Devotional Worship

  1. 1

    Brahmā teaches the daily regulations of arcanā, or devotional worship. The devotee rises early, prays to the Lord and follows the principles for offering maṅgala-ārati.

  2. 2

    The Lord sleeps by His own will within His internal potency. His transcendental activities are not hampered by material circumstances.

  3. 3

    Comparing the Lord to ourselves cannot reveal the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is. Knowledge received from the Vedas is the standard, and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam recommends arcanā.

Key points from the purport
  • Foolish nondevotees, not understanding the importance of arcanā, criticize the regulative principles, but they have no eyes to see that the Lord also sleeps, by His own will.
  • Therefore, sleeping exists in the internal potency of the Lord, and this is not denied by pure devotees of the Lord like Brahmā and his disciplic succession.
  • The Māyāvādī cannot think beyond this material experience, and thus he denies the Lord’s ability to sleep within the water.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yatwhose
  2. nābhinavel
  3. padmalotus
  4. bhavanātfrom the house of
  5. ahamI
  6. āsambecame manifested
  7. īḍyaO worshipable one
  8. loka-trayathe three worlds
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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

How can I give prayer a more regular place at the beginning of my day?

Practice

Today, set an early morning reminder to rise and offer a brief prayer to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBegin the Day With Devotional WorshipThis 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 3.9.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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