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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
3.9.363.9.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.9.37

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

तुभ्यं मद्विचिकित्सायामात्मा मे दर्शितोऽबहि: ।

नालेन सलिले मूलं पुष्करस्य विचिन्वत: ॥ ३७ ॥

tubhyaṁ mad-vicikitsāyām

ātmā me darśito ’bahiḥ

nālena salile mūlaṁ

puṣkarasya vicinvataḥ

Translation

When you were contemplating whether there was a source to the stem of the lotus of your birth and you even entered into that stem, you could not trace out anything. But at that time I manifested My form from within.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Reveals Himself Through Devotion

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is known by His causeless mercy, not by mental speculation or material senses.

  2. 2

    Submissive devotional service removes the material covering of spiritual vision. Through love of Godhead, the devotee can see the Lord from within.

  3. 3

    Brahmā’s search for the lotus’s root failed. When the Lord was satisfied by his penance and devotion, He revealed Himself from within.

Key points from the purport
  • The Personality of Godhead can be experienced only by His causeless mercy, not by mental speculation or with the help of the material senses.
  • Material senses cannot approach the transcendental understanding of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • The Personality of Godhead cannot be seen with the material eyes, but He can be seen from within by spiritual eyes opened by the ointment of love of Godhead.

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. tubhyamunto you
  2. matMe
  3. vicikitsāyāmon your trying to know
  4. ātmāself
  5. meof Myself
  6. darśitaḥexhibited
  7. abahiḥfrom within
  8. nālenathrough the stem
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

  • 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

Am I approaching the Lord mainly through speculation, or with a willingness to serve Him lovingly?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute asking the Lord for the willingness to serve Him with love and humility.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Reveals Himself Through DevotionThis 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 3.9.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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