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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
3.9.373.9.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.9.38

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

यच्चकर्थाङ्ग मतस्तोत्रं मत्कथाभ्युदयाङ्कितम् ।

यद्वा तपसि ते निष्ठा स एष मदनुग्रह: ॥ ३८ ॥

yac cakarthāṅga mat-stotraṁ

mat-kathābhyudayāṅkitam

yad vā tapasi te niṣṭhā

sa eṣa mad-anugrahaḥ

Translation

O Brahmā, the prayers that you have chanted praising the glories of My transcendental activities, the penances you have undertaken to understand Me, and your firm faith in Me — all these are to be considered My causeless mercy.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sincere Service Invites the Lord’s Help

  1. 1

    The Lord identifies Brahmā’s prayers, penances and firm faith as His causeless mercy.

  2. 2

    When someone desires to serve Him lovingly, the Lord helps as the caitya-guru, the spiritual master within.

  3. 3

    Spiritual perfection develops through sincere, voluntary endeavor in transcendental service. Wealth and education are not the qualifying factors.

Key points from the purport
  • When a living entity desires to serve the Lord in transcendental loving service, the Lord helps the devotee in so many ways as the caitya-guru, or the spiritual master within, and thus the devotee can perform many wonderful activities beyond material estimation.
  • By the mercy of the Lord even a layman can compose prayers of the highest spiritual perfection.
  • Such spiritual perfection is not limited by material qualifications but is developed by dint of one’s sincere endeavor to render transcendental service.

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. yatthat which
  2. cakarthaperformed
  3. aṅgaO Brahmā
  4. mat-stotramprayers for Me
  5. mat-kathāwords regarding My activities
  6. abhyudaya-aṅkitamenumerating My transcendental glories
  7. yator that
  8. vāeither
3

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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “chanted”

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

Do I let a lack of education or wealth discourage my sincere effort to serve?

Practice

Offer a short prayer in your own words, sincerely expressing your desire to serve the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySincere Service Invites the Lord’s HelpThis 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 3.9.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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