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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
3.9.73.9.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.9.8

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

क्षुत्तृट्‌त्रिधातुभिरिमा मुहुरर्द्यमाना:

शीतोष्णवातवरषैरितरेतराच्च ।

कामाग्निनाच्युत रुषा च सुदुर्भरेण

सम्पश्यतो मन उरुक्रम सीदते मे ॥ ८ ॥

kṣut-tṛṭ-tridhātubhir imā muhur ardyamānāḥ

śītoṣṇa-vāta-varaṣair itaretarāc ca

kāmāgninācyuta-ruṣā ca sudurbhareṇa

sampaśyato mana urukrama sīdate me

Translation

O great actor, my Lord, all these poor creatures are constantly perplexed by hunger, thirst, severe cold, secretion and bile, attacked by coughing winter, blasting summer, rains and many other disturbing elements, and overwhelmed by strong sex urges and indefatigable anger. I take pity on them, and I am very much aggrieved for them.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotees Care About Others’ Suffering

  1. 1

    Brahmā feels deep sorrow on seeing living beings troubled by bodily needs, harsh weather, strong desires and anger. Pure devotees are unhappy to see conditioned souls suffer.

  2. 2

    Leaders who do not know how to relieve these difficulties can place their followers in further trouble. The purport compares this to a blind person leading another blind person into a ditch.

  3. 3

    Devotees take pity on suffering people and teach them the right path. Those who voluntarily accept this responsibility are very dear to the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • A pure devotee of the Lord like Brahmā and persons in his disciplic succession are always unhappy to see the perplexities of the conditioned souls, who are suffering the onslaughts of the threefold miseries which pertain to the body and mind, to the disturbances of material nature, and to many other such material disadvantages.
  • Therefore, unless the devotees of the Lord take pity on them and teach them the right path, their lives are hopeless failures.
  • The devotees of the Lord who voluntarily take the responsibility of raising the foolish materialistic sense enjoyers are as confidential to the Lord as Lord Brahmā.

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. kṣuthunger
  2. tṛṭthirst
  3. tri-dhātubhiḥthree humors, namely mucus, bile and wind
  4. imāḥall of them
  5. muhuḥalways
  6. ardyamānāḥperplexed
  7. śītawinter
  8. uṣṇasummer
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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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.9

    In this verse: “pity”, “suffering”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “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

Does seeing another person’s suffering awaken a wish to help them find the right path?

Practice

Read Brahmā’s prayer with one suffering person in mind, and pray for the compassion to offer helpful spiritual guidance.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotees Care About Others’ SufferingThis 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 3.9.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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