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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 5 · The Creative Impetus · 26 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 5 · Chapter 25: The Glories of Lord Ananta
5.25.25.25.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.25.3

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.25.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यस्य ह वा इदं कालेनोपसञ्जिहीर्षतोऽमर्षविरचितरुचिरभ्रमद्भ्रुवोरन्तरेण साङ्कर्षणो नाम रुद्र एकादशव्यूहस्‍त्र्यक्षस्त्रिशिखं शूलमुत्तम्भयन्नुदतिष्ठत् ॥ ३ ॥

yasya ha vā idaṁ kālenopasañjihīrṣato ’marṣa-viracita-rucira-bhramad-bhruvor antareṇa sāṅkarṣaṇo nāma rudra ekādaśa-vyūhas try-akṣas tri-śikhaṁ śūlam uttambhayann udatiṣṭhat.

Translation

At the time of devastation, when Lord Anantadeva desires to destroy the entire creation, He becomes slightly angry. Then from between His two eyebrows appears three-eyed Rudra, carrying a trident. This Rudra, who is known as Sāṅkarṣaṇa, is the embodiment of the eleven Rudras, or incarnations of Lord Śiva. He appears in order to devastate the entire creation.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Creation Offers a Chance to Return

  1. 1

    In each creation, living entities receive a chance to end their life as conditioned souls and go back home, back to Godhead.

  2. 2

    When they misuse this opportunity, Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa becomes angry. At the time of devastation, Rudra appears from between His eyebrows.

  3. 3

    This three-eyed Rudra, called Sāṅkarṣaṇa, carries a trident and embodies the eleven Rudras. Together, these expansions of Lord Śiva devastate the creation.

Key points from the purport
  • In each creation, the living entities are given a chance to close their business as conditioned souls.
  • When they misuse this opportunity and do not go back home, back to Godhead, Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa becomes angry.
  • The eleven Rudras, expansions of Lord Śiva, come out of Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa’s eyebrows due to His angry mood, and all of them together devastate the entire creation.

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

Smallness → Awe and reverence. A vast cosmos changes the reader's perspective.

Chapters 15–25 of Canto 5: The cosmic regions and divine worship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 25: The Glories of Lord Ananta

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

He is the original Deity of material consciousness, and because He attracts all living entities, He is sometimes known as Saṅkarṣaṇa. The entire material world is situated on the hoods of Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.25
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yasyaof whom
  2. ha vāindeed
  3. idamthis (material world)
  4. kālenain due course of time
  5. upasañjihīrṣataḥdesiring to destroy
  6. amarṣaby anger
  7. viracitaformed
  8. ruciravery beautiful
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

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 am I using the opportunity to return to Godhead?

Practice

Set aside two minutes today to reflect on returning to Godhead as your goal rather than continuing conditioned life.

Live this todayCreation Offers a Chance to ReturnThis 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 5.25.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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