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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
3.9.313.9.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.9.32

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

यदा तु सर्वभूतेषु दारुष्वग्निमिव स्थितम् ।

प्रतिचक्षीत मां लोको जह्यात्तर्ह्येव कश्मलम् ॥ ३२ ॥

yadā tu sarva-bhūteṣu

dāruṣv agnim iva sthitam

praticakṣīta māṁ loko

jahyāt tarhy eva kaśmalam

Translation

You will see Me in all living entities as well as all over the universe, just as fire is situated in wood. Only in that state of transcendental vision will you be able to be free from all kinds of illusion.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

See Everything in Relationship With the Lord

  1. 1

    Brahmā wanted never to forget his eternal relationship with the Lord during material activities. The Lord teaches him to see everything in relationship with His potency.

  2. 2

    Fire has the same warmth in different kinds of wood. Similarly, although bodies differ in shape and quality, every living being is a spiritual spark, part and parcel of the Supreme Spirit.

  3. 3

    A pure devotee sees the Lord’s potency throughout creation rather than becoming attached to outward coverings. This spiritual vision frees one from material illusion.

Key points from the purport
  • Brahmā prayed that he might not forget his eternal relationship with the Lord during the course of his material activities.
  • The quality of fire, warmth, is the same everywhere, and the spiritual spark, or part and parcel of the Supreme Spirit, is the same in every living being; thus the potency of the Lord is distributed all over His creation.
  • Since the Lord’s potency is distributed everywhere, a pure soul, or devotee of the Lord, can see everything in relationship with the Lord, and therefore he has no affection for the outer coverings.

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. yadāwhen
  2. tubut
  3. sarvaall
  4. bhūteṣuin the living entities
  5. dāruṣuin wood
  6. agnimfire
  7. ivalike
  8. sthitamsituated
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “illusion”, “attached”, “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “devotee”

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 would remembering the spiritual soul change the way I regard someone’s outward appearance?

Practice

When you meet someone today, pause to remember that the person is a spiritual soul related to the Lord.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySee Everything in Relationship With the LordThis 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 3.9.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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