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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
3.9.293.9.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.9.30

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 3.9.29inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

भूयस्त्वं तप आतिष्ठ विद्यां चैव मदाश्रयाम् ।

ताभ्यामन्तर्हृदि ब्रह्मन् लोकान्द्रक्ष्यस्यपावृतान् ॥ ३० ॥

bhūyas tvaṁ tapa ātiṣṭha

vidyāṁ caiva mad-āśrayām

tābhyām antar-hṛdi brahman

lokān drakṣyasy apāvṛtān

Translation

O Brahmā, situate yourself in penance and meditation and follow the principles of knowledge to receive My favor. By these actions you will be able to understand everything from within your heart.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Persevere in Devotion to Receive Guidance

  1. 1

    The Lord directs Brahmā to practice penance, meditation and knowledge to receive His favor. Through these, understanding would arise within his heart.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s mercy toward someone carrying out His entrusted work is beyond imagination. It is received through penance and perseverance in devotional service.

  3. 3

    Brahmā would learn through meditation where and how to arrange the planetary systems. The Lord’s guidance from within removed the need for anxiety about that task.

Key points from the purport
  • The mercy the Lord bestows upon a particular person engaged in executing the responsible work entrusted unto him is beyond imagination.
  • But His mercy is received due to our penance and perseverance in executing devotional service.
  • Brahmā was entrusted with the work of creating the planetary systems.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 3.9.30 quotesBG 10.10

Such instructions of buddhi-yoga are directly imparted by the Lord from within, as confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (10.10).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. bhūyaḥagain
  2. tvamyourself
  3. tapaḥpenance
  4. ātiṣṭhabe situated
  5. vidyāmin the knowledge
  6. caalso
  7. evacertainly
  8. matMy
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”, “understanding”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “favor”, “mercy”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “principles”

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 persevere in devotional service instead of letting anxiety interrupt it?

Practice

Set aside a few undistracted minutes today for meditation on the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPersevere in Devotion to Receive GuidanceThis 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 3.9.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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