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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 9: Brahmā’s Prayers for Creative Energy
3.9.253.9.27-28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.9.26

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.9.26inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

स्वसम्भवं निशाम्यैवं तपोविद्यासमाधिभि: ।

यावन्मनोवच: स्तुत्वा विरराम स खिन्नवत् ॥ २६ ॥

maitreya uvāca

sva-sambhavaṁ niśāmyaivaṁ

tapo-vidyā-samādhibhiḥ

yāvan mano-vacaḥ stutvā

virarāma sa khinnavat

Translation

The sage Maitreya said: O Vidura, after observing the source of his appearance, namely the Personality of Godhead, Brahmā prayed for His mercy as far as his mind and words would permit him. Thus having prayed, he became silent, as if tired from his activities of penance, knowledge and mental concentration.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Enlightens From Within

  1. 1

    After seeing the source of his birth, Brahmā prayed as far as his mind and words allowed. Then he became silent.

  2. 2

    Brahmā’s enlightenment came from the Lord within his heart. Through penance and mental concentration, he came to see the source of his appearance.

  3. 3

    The spiritual master outside and the spiritual master within both represent the Lord. Because Brahmā was then the only creature in the universe, the Lord enlightened him directly from within.

Key points from the purport
  • After being created, Brahmā could not ascertain the source of his appearance, but after penance and mental concentration he could see the source of his birth, and thus he became enlightened through his heart.
  • The spiritual master outside and the spiritual master within are both representations of the Lord.
  • Therefore, on becoming satisfied by the prayers of Brahmā, the Lord enlightened him about everything from within.

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. maitreyaḥ uvācathe great sage Maitreya said
  2. sva-sambhavamthe source of his appearance
  3. niśāmyaby seeing
  4. evamthus
  5. tapaḥpenance
  6. vidyāknowledge
  7. samādhibhiḥas also by concentration of the mind
  8. yāvatas far as possible
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “mercy”

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 does Brahmā’s example help me approach spiritual understanding with humility?

Practice

Read this passage slowly, then offer a brief prayer for the Lord’s mercy in understanding it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Enlightens From WithinThis 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 3.9.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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