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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
3.9.233.9.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.9.24

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

नाभिहृदादिह सतोऽम्भसि यस्य पुंसो

विज्ञानशक्तिरहमासमनन्तशक्ते: ।

रूपं विचित्रमिदमस्य विवृण्वतो मे

मा रीरिषीष्ट निगमस्य गिरां विसर्ग: ॥ २४ ॥

nābhi-hradād iha sato ’mbhasi yasya puṁso

vijñāna-śaktir aham āsam ananta-śakteḥ

rūpaṁ vicitram idam asya vivṛṇvato me

mā rīriṣīṣṭa nigamasya girāṁ visargaḥ

Translation

The Lord’s potencies are innumerable. As He lies down in the water of devastation, I am born as the total universal energy from the navel lake in which the lotus sprouts. I am now engaged in manifesting His diverse energies in the form of the cosmic manifestation. I therefore pray that in the course of my material activities I may not be deviated from the vibration of the Vedic hymns.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Protection While Performing Your Duties

  1. 1

    Brahmā prays that his work of manifesting the Lord’s energies will not divert him from the vibration of Vedic hymns.

  2. 2

    Material activities and association can draw a person away from spiritual life. Even Brahmā asks the Lord to protect him from falling from his spiritual position.

  3. 3

    One should constantly pray for protection and the blessing to carry out one’s duty. A surrendered soul who always seeks the Lord’s protection need not fear material contamination.

Key points from the purport
  • Every person engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord in this material world is prone to so many material activities, and if one is not strong enough to protect himself against the onslaught of material affection, he may be diverted from the spiritual energy.
  • Brahmā, as the supermost brāhmaṇa, is afraid of such a falldown, and therefore he prays to the Lord for protection.
  • Unless one is sufficiently protected by the Lord, he may fall down from his spiritual position; therefore one has to pray constantly to the Lord for protection and the blessing to carry out one’s duty.

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. nābhi-hradātfrom the navel lake
  2. ihain this millennium
  3. sataḥlying
  4. ambhasiin the water
  5. yasyaone whose
  6. puṁsaḥof the Personality of Godhead
  7. vijñānaof the total universe
  8. śaktiḥenergy
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “contamination”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duty”

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 part of my daily work most calls for prayerful attention?

Practice

Pause before a demanding duty and ask the Lord for protection from material attachment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek Protection While Performing Your DutiesThis 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 3.9.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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