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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
3.9.63.9.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.9.7

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

दैवेन ते हतधियो भवत: प्रसङ्गा-

त्सर्वाशुभोपशमनाद्विमुखेन्द्रिया ये ।

कुर्वन्ति कामसुखलेशलवाय दीना

लोभाभिभूतमनसोऽकुशलानि शश्वत् ॥ ७ ॥

daivena te hata-dhiyo bhavataḥ prasaṅgāt

sarvāśubhopaśamanād vimukhendriyā ye

kurvanti kāma-sukha-leśa-lavāya dīnā

lobhābhibhūta-manaso ’kuśalāni śaśvat

Translation

O my Lord, persons who are bereft of the all-auspicious performance of chanting and hearing about Your transcendental activities are certainly unfortunate and are also bereft of good sense. They engage in inauspicious activities, enjoying sense gratification for a very little while.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Compassion Leads Others Toward Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Chanting and hearing the Lord’s glories and pastimes are all-auspicious. They can bring freedom from the cares and anxieties of material existence.

  2. 2

    Those who turn away pursue sense pleasure that lasts only briefly. The purport connects their misfortune with offenses committed for sense gratification.

  3. 3

    Pure devotees take compassion on such people and try to guide them toward devotional service. Their grace makes elevation to transcendental service possible.

Key points from the purport
  • The next question is why people are against such auspicious activities as chanting and hearing the glories and pastimes of the Lord, which can bring total freedom from the cares and anxieties of material existence.
  • The only answer to this question is that they are unfortunate because of supernatural control due to their offensive activities performed simply for the sake of sense gratification.
  • Only by the grace of pure devotees can such unfortunate men be elevated to the position of 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. daivenaby fate of misfortune
  2. tethey
  3. hata-dhiyaḥbereft of memory
  4. bhavataḥof You
  5. prasaṅgātfrom the topics
  6. sarvaall
  7. aśubhainauspiciousness
  8. upaśamanātcurbing down
3

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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

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

How can I respond compassionately to someone who has little interest in hearing about the Lord?

Practice

Gently invite someone to join you for a brief reading about the Lord, without pressuring them.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCompassion Leads Others Toward Devotional 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 3.9.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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