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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
3.9.393.9.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.9.40

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

य एतेन पुमान्नित्यं स्तुत्वा स्तोत्रेण मां भजेत् ।

तस्याशु सम्प्रसीदेयं सर्वकामवरेश्वर: ॥ ४० ॥

ya etena pumān nityaṁ

stutvā stotreṇa māṁ bhajet

tasyāśu samprasīdeyaṁ

sarva-kāma-vareśvaraḥ

Translation

Any human being who prays like Brahmā, and who thus worships Me, shall very soon be blessed with the fulfillment of all his desires, for I am the Lord of all benediction.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pray to Serve, Not to Enjoy

  1. 1

    The Lord is the Lord of all benediction and promises to bless those who worship Him with prayers like Brahmā’s.

  2. 2

    These prayers are meant for those who want to satisfy the Lord through service, not fulfill their own sense gratification.

  3. 3

    The Lord fulfills desires connected with transcendental loving service. Even excellent prayers do not oblige Him to fulfill the whims of nondevotees.

Key points from the purport
  • The prayers offered by Brahmā cannot be chanted by anyone who desires to fulfill his own sense gratification.
  • Such prayers can be selected only by a person who wants to satisfy the Lord in His service.
  • The Lord certainly fulfills all desires in regard to transcendental loving service, but He cannot fulfill the whims of nondevotees, even when such casual devotees offer Him the best of prayers.

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. yaḥanyone who
  2. etenaby this
  3. pumānhuman being
  4. nityamregularly
  5. stutvāpraying
  6. stotreṇaby the verses
  7. māmMe
  8. bhajetmay worship
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worships”, “worship”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “blessed”, “bless”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

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

Is my prayer aimed at satisfying the Lord or mainly at satisfying myself?

Practice

Offer one prayer today asking for an opportunity to please the Lord through service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPray to Serve, Not to EnjoyThis 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 3.9.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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