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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
3.9.263.9.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 3.9.27-28

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

अथाभिप्रेतमन्वीक्ष्य ब्रह्मणो मधुसूदन: ।

विषण्णचेतसं तेन कल्पव्यतिकराम्भसा ॥ २७ ॥

लोकसंस्थानविज्ञान आत्मन: परिखिद्यत: ।

तमाहागाधया वाचा कश्मलं शमयन्निव ॥ २८ ॥

athābhipretam anvīkṣya

brahmaṇo madhusūdanaḥ

viṣaṇṇa-cetasaṁ tena

kalpa-vyatikarāmbhasā

loka-saṁsthāna-vijñāna

ātmanaḥ parikhidyataḥ

tam āhāgādhayā vācā

kaśmalaṁ śamayann iva

Translation

The Lord saw that Brahmā was very anxious about the planning and construction of the different planetary systems and was depressed upon seeing the devastating water. He could understand the intention of Brahmā, and thus He spoke in deep, thoughtful words, removing all the illusion that had arisen.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Grace Meets Overwhelming Responsibility

  1. 1

    Even Brahmā was disturbed by the devastating water and anxious about arranging the planetary systems. The Lord understood his intention and spoke thoughtful words that removed his illusion.

  2. 2

    Brahmā had to arrange suitable places for conditioned souls with different bodies. These arrangements corresponded to the many combinations of the modes of material nature.

  3. 3

    No one else in the universe could understand the full difficulty of Brahmā’s task. By the Lord’s grace, he carried it out with wonderful skill.

Key points from the purport
  • The devastating water was so fearful that even Brahmā was perturbed at its appearance and became very anxious about how to situate the different planetary systems in outer space to accommodate the different kinds of living entities, such as the human beings, those lower than the human beings, and the superhuman beings.
  • Lord Brahmā had to accommodate different places and situations for the requisite bodies of the conditioned souls.
  • But by the grace of the Lord, Brahmā was able to execute the tremendous task so perfectly that everyone is amazed to see the workmanship of the vidhātā, or the regulator.

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. athathereupon
  2. abhipretamintention
  3. anvīkṣyaobserving
  4. brahmaṇaḥof Brahmā
  5. madhusūdanaḥthe killer of the Madhu demon
  6. viṣaṇṇadepressed
  7. cetasamof the heart
  8. tenaby him
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “illusion”, “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “grace”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When a responsibility feels overwhelming, do I remember my dependence on the Lord’s grace?

Practice

Name one responsibility that worries you and pray for the Lord’s grace before taking its next step.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Grace Meets Overwhelming ResponsibilityThis 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 3.9.27-28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.