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

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Canto 7 · The Science of God · 15 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 7 · Chapter 3: Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Plan to Become Immortal
7.3.327.3.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.3.33

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 7.3.22inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitNārada Muni → Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira

व्यक्तं विभो स्थूलमिदं शरीरं

येनेन्द्रियप्राणमनोगुणांस्त्वम् ।

भुङ्‌क्षे स्थितो धामनि पारमेष्ठ्ये

अव्यक्त आत्मा पुरुष: पुराण: ॥ ३३ ॥

vyaktaṁ vibho sthūlam idaṁ śarīraṁ

yenendriya-prāṇa-mano-guṇāṁs tvam

bhuṅkṣe sthito dhāmani pārameṣṭhye

avyakta ātmā puruṣaḥ purāṇaḥ

Translation

O my lord, being changelessly situated in your own abode, you expand your universal form within this cosmic manifestation, thus appearing to taste the material world. You are Brahman, the Supersoul, the oldest, the Personality of Godhead.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Is the Ultimate Absolute Truth

  1. 1

    The Absolute Truth appears as impersonal Brahman, the localized Supersoul, and ultimately the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    The cosmic manifestation is the Lord’s gross material body. His parts and parcels, the living entities, are qualitatively one with Him.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead enjoys spiritual mellows in the Vaikuṇṭha planets. The one Absolute Truth pervades all through His cosmic manifestation, Brahman effulgence, and personal existence as the Supreme Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • It is said that the Absolute Truth appears in three features — namely, impersonal Brahman, localized Supersoul and ultimately the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.
  • The cosmic manifestation is the gross material body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who enjoys the taste of the material mellows by expanding His parts and parcels, the living entities, who are qualitatively one with Him.
  • Therefore the one Absolute Truth, Bhagavān, pervades all by His material cosmic manifestation, the spiritual Brahman effulgence, and His personal existence as the Supreme Lord.

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

Pride and rage → Oppression. The ruler's power intensifies his insecurity.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 7: Hiraṇyakaśipu's ascent and intimidation. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Plan to Become Immortal

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Hiraṇyakaśipu, the King of the Daityas, bowed down before Lord Brahmā, the creator of this universe, offering respectful obeisances again and again and offering prayers.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 7.3
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vyaktammanifested
  2. vibhoO my lord
  3. sthūlamcosmic manifestation
  4. idamthis
  5. śarīramexternal body
  6. yenaby which
  7. indriyathe senses
  8. prāṇathe life air
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 7.3

    In this verse: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 7.3

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does knowing Kṛṣṇa as the personal Absolute Truth deepen my understanding of Him?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute reflecting on Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not merely an impersonal presence.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is the Ultimate Absolute TruthThis 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 7.3.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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