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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
3.9.243.9.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.9.25

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

सोऽसावदभ्रकरुणो भगवान् विवृद्ध-

प्रेमस्मितेन नयनाम्बुरुहं विजृम्भन् ।

उत्थाय विश्वविजयाय च नो विषादं

माध्व्या गिरापनयतात्पुरुष: पुराण: ॥ २५ ॥

so ’sāv adabhra-karuṇo bhagavān vivṛddha-

prema-smitena nayanāmburuhaṁ vijṛmbhan

utthāya viśva-vijayāya ca no viṣādaṁ

mādhvyā girāpanayatāt puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ

Translation

The Lord, who is supreme and is the oldest of all, is unlimitedly merciful. I wish that He may smilingly bestow His benediction upon me by opening His lotus eyes. He can uplift the entire cosmic creation and remove our dejection by kindly speaking His directions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Creation Offers a Chance for Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The Lord is unlimitedly merciful to fallen souls. The whole cosmic manifestation gives everyone a chance to advance in devotional service.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s self-expansions are the Lord Himself, while individual souls are His separated expansions. Liberated souls can share in blissful exchanges with Him without material conceptions.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s rāsa-līlā with the gopīs is not an ordinary relationship between man and woman. It is the highest perfection of loving exchange, and Brahmā seeks blessings to help fulfill creation’s spiritual purpose.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord is ever increasingly merciful upon the fallen souls of this material world.
  • The personalities of the individual souls are His separated expansions, whereas the self-expansions are the Lord Himself.
  • Lord Brahmā is entrusted with the management of the complete cosmic show, and therefore he prays that the Lord bestow His blessings upon him so that he may execute its purpose.

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. saḥHe (the Lord)
  2. asauthat
  3. adabhraunlimited
  4. karuṇaḥmerciful
  5. bhagavānthe Personality of Godhead
  6. vivṛddhaexcessive
  7. premalove
  8. smitenaby smiling
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “merciful”, “blessings”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “kindly”

  • 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

How might I use today as an opportunity to grow in devotional service?

Practice

Offer a short prayer asking for the Lord’s mercy to use your opportunities in His service.

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 3.9's connections

Live this todayCreation Offers a Chance for Devotional ServiceThis 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 3.9.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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