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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
3.9.53.9.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.9.6

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 3.9.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तावद्भयं द्रविणदेहसुहृन्निमित्तं

शोक: स्पृहा परिभवो विपुलश्च लोभ: ।

तावन्ममेत्यसदवग्रह आर्तिमूलं

यावन्न तेऽङ्‌घ्रिमभयं प्रवृणीत लोक: ॥ ६ ॥

tāvad bhayaṁ draviṇa-deha-suhṛn-nimittaṁ

śokaḥ spṛhā paribhavo vipulaś ca lobhaḥ

tāvan mamety asad-avagraha ārti-mūlaṁ

yāvan na te ’ṅghrim abhayaṁ pravṛṇīta lokaḥ

Translation

O my Lord, the people of the world are embarrassed by all material anxieties — they are always afraid. They always try to protect wealth, body and friends, they are filled with lamentation and unlawful desires and paraphernalia, and they avariciously base their undertakings on the perishable conceptions of “my” and “mine.” As long as they do not take shelter of Your safe lotus feet, they are full of such anxieties.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Surrender Possessions for the Lord’s Service

  1. 1

    Thinking in terms of “my” and “mine” brings fear and lamentation over wealth, body and relationships. The Lord’s lotus feet are the safe shelter from these anxieties.

  2. 2

    A pure devotee does not consider himself the proprietor of his home. He surrenders everything to the Lord’s supreme control.

  3. 3

    A devotee acquires wealth for the Lord’s service, not for sense enjoyment. Used in this way, wealth loses its power to entangle him.

Key points from the purport
  • Everyone in the material world is full of thoughts about how to maintain his family, how to protect his wealth, how to keep pace with friends and relatives, etc. Thus he is always in fear and lamentation, trying to keep up with the status quo.
  • Even if there is attraction for wealth, it is not for sense enjoyment, but for the service of the Lord.
  • And because a pure devotee accepts everything in the sense of serving the Lord, the poisonous teeth of accumulation of wealth are extracted.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.2.33

As long as they do not take shelter of Your safe lotus feet, they are full of such anxieties.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. tāvatuntil then
  2. bhayamfear
  3. draviṇawealth
  4. dehabody
  5. suhṛtrelatives
  6. nimittamfor the matter of
  7. śokaḥlamentation
  8. spṛhādesire
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “protect”, “safe”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “afraid”, “fear”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which possession could I begin to see as meant for the Lord’s service rather than my enjoyment?

Practice

Use one thing you own in a small act of service to the Lord today.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySurrender Possessions for the Lord’s ServiceThis 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 3.9.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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