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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
3.9.403.9.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.9.41

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
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

पूर्तेन तपसा यज्ञैर्दानैर्योगसमाधिना ।

राद्धं नि:श्रेयसं पुंसां मत्प्रीतिस्तत्त्वविन्मतम् ॥ ४१ ॥

pūrtena tapasā yajñair

dānair yoga-samādhinā

rāddhaṁ niḥśreyasaṁ puṁsāṁ

mat-prītis tattvavin-matam

Translation

It is the opinion of expert transcendentalists that the ultimate goal of performing all traditional good works, penances, sacrifices, charities, mystic activities, trances, etc., is to invoke My satisfaction.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Success Means Satisfying the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Good works, charity, sacrifice, penance and meditation become fully beneficial when they lead to the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s satisfaction.

  2. 2

    Arjuna gave up his own preference when he understood that Kṛṣṇa wanted him to fight. He acted for the Lord’s satisfaction rather than his own.

  3. 3

    The perfection of any activity is to satisfy the Supreme Lord. Without that satisfaction, even pious work fails to achieve its ultimate purpose.

Key points from the purport
  • There are many traditionally pious activities in human society, such as altruism, philanthropy, nationalism, internationalism, charity, sacrifice, penance and even meditation in trance, and all of them can be fully beneficial only when they lead to the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • As a good, nonviolent man, Arjuna did not want to fight with his kinsmen, but when he understood that Kṛṣṇa wanted the fight and had arranged it at Kurukṣetra, he gave up his own satisfaction and fought for the satisfaction of the Lord.
  • One’s only concern should be to satisfy the Lord by one’s activities.

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. pūrtenaby traditional good work
  2. tapasāby penances
  3. yajñaiḥby sacrifices
  4. dānaiḥby charities
  5. yogaby mysticism
  6. samādhināby trance
  7. rāddhamsuccess
  8. niḥśreyasamultimately beneficial
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “gave up”

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

Whose satisfaction am I making the standard of success in my activities?

Practice

Before one good deed today, consciously make pleasing the Supreme Lord your purpose.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySuccess Means Satisfying the Supreme 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 3.9.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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