1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 7 · The Science of God · 15 chapters

123456789101112131415

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
7.3.337.3.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 7.3.34

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

अनन्ताव्यक्तरूपेण येनेदमखिलं ततम् ।

चिदचिच्छक्तियुक्ताय तस्मै भगवते नम: ॥ ३४ ॥

anantāvyakta-rūpeṇa

yenedam akhilaṁ tatam

cid-acic-chakti-yuktāya

tasmai bhagavate namaḥ

Translation

Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme, who in his unlimited, unmanifested form has expanded the cosmic manifestation, the form of the totality of the universe. He possesses external and internal energies and the mixed energy called the marginal potency, which consists of all the living entities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord and His Three Potencies

  1. 1

    The Lord has unlimited potencies, summarized as external, internal and marginal. The external potency manifests the material world, and the internal potency manifests the spiritual world.

  2. 2

    The living entities belong to the marginal potency. Each living entity is actually part of the internal potency, but contact with material energy brings a mixture of material and spiritual energies.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is above material energy and is engaged in spiritual pastimes. Material energy is only an external manifestation of His pastimes.

Key points from the purport
  • The external potency manifests this material world, the internal potency manifests the spiritual world, and the marginal potency manifests the living entities, who are mixtures of internal and external.
  • The living entity, being part and parcel of Parabrahman, is actually internal potency, but because of being in contact with the material energy, he is an emanation of material and spiritual energies.
  • The material energy is only an external manifestation of His pastimes.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ananta-avyakta-rūpeṇaby the unlimited, unmanifested form
  2. yenaby which
  3. idamthis
  4. akhilamtotal aggregate
  5. tatamexpanded
  6. citwith spiritual
  7. acitand material
  8. śaktipotency
3

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”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does knowing that you are part and parcel of the Supreme change the way you see yourself?

Practice

Offer respectful obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, remembering that He is above material energy.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord and His Three PotenciesThis 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 7.3.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories