Canto 3: The Status Quo

In this canto one finds not only a direct description of the Kingdom of God but also details of the fundamental Principles of the Material Nature and the Glories of Devotional Service, or Bhakti Yoga. 

Table of contents

  1. Questions by Viduraplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.1: Questions by Vidura

    Questions by Vidura

    SB 3.1.1Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After renouncing his prosperous home and entering the forest, King Vidura, the great devotee, asked this question of His Grace Maitreya Ṛṣi.SB 3.1.2What else is there to say about the residential house of the Pāṇḍavas? Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of everything, acted as your minister. He used to enter that house as if it were His own, and He did not take any care of Duryodhana
  2. Remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.2: Remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa

    Remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa

    SB 3.2.1Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: When the great devotee Uddhava was asked by Vidura to speak on the messages of the dearest [Lord Kṛṣṇa], Uddhava was unable to answer immediately due to excessive anxiety at the remembrance of the Lord.
  3. The Lord's Pastimes Out of Vṛndāvanaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.3: The Lord’s Pastimes Out of Vṛndāvana

    The Lord’s Pastimes Out of Vṛndāvana

    SB 3.3.1Śrī Uddhava said: Thereafter Lord Kṛṣṇa went to Mathurā City with Śrī Baladeva, and to please Their parents They dragged Kaṁsa, the leader of public enemies, down from his throne and killed him, pulling him along the ground with great strength.
  4. Vidura Approaches Maitreyaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.4: Vidura Approaches Maitreya

    Vidura Approaches Maitreya

    SB 3.4.1Thereafter, all of them [the descendants of Vṛṣṇi and Bhoja], being permitted by the brāhmaṇas, partook of the remnants of prasāda and also drank liquor made of rice. By drinking they all became delirious, and, bereft of knowledge, they touched the cores of each other
  5. Vidura's Talks with Maitreyaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.5: Vidura’s Talks with Maitreya

    Vidura’s Talks with Maitreya

    SB 3.5.1Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Vidura, the best amongst the Kuru dynasty, who was perfect in devotional service to the Lord, thus reached the source of the celestial Ganges River [Hardwar], where Maitreya, the great, fathomless learned sage of the world, was seated. Vidura, who was perfect in gentleness and satisfied in transcendence, inquired from him.
  6. Creation of the Universal Formplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.6: Creation of the Universal Form

    Creation of the Universal Form

    SB 3.6.1The Ṛṣi Maitreya said: The Lord thus heard about the suspension of the progressive creative functions of the universe due to the noncombination of His potencies, such as the mahat-tattva.SB 3.6.2The Supreme Powerful Lord then simultaneously entered into the twenty-three elements with the goddess Kālī, His external energy, who alone amalgamates all the different elements.
  7. Further Inquires by Viduraplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.7: Further Inquires by Vidura

    Further Inquires by Vidura

    SB 3.7.1Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, while Maitreya, the great sage, was thus speaking, Vidura, the learned son of Dvaipāyana Vyāsa, expressed a request in a pleasing manner by asking this question.SB 3.7.2Śrī Vidura said: O great brāhmaṇa, since the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the complete spiritual whole and is unchangeable, how is He connected with the material modes of nature and their activities? If this is His pastime, how do the activities of the u…
  8. Manifestation of Brahmā from Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇuplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.8: Manifestation of Brahmā from Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu

    Manifestation of Brahmā from Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu

    SB 3.8.1The great sage Maitreya Muni said to Vidura: The royal dynasty of King Pūru is worthy to serve the pure devotees because all the descendants of that family are devoted to the Personality of Godhead. You are also born in that family, and it is wonderful that because of your attempt the transcendental pastimes of the Lord are becoming newer and newer at every moment.
  9. Brahmā's Prayers for Creative Energyplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.9: Brahmā’s Prayers for Creative Energy

    Brahmā’s Prayers for Creative Energy

    SB 3.9.1Lord Brahmā said: O my Lord, today, after many, many years of penance, I have come to know about You. Oh, how unfortunate the embodied living entities are that they are unable to know Your personality! My Lord, You are the only knowable object because there is nothing supreme beyond You. If there is anything supposedly superior to You, it is not the Absolute. You exist as the Supreme by exhibiting the creative energy of matter.
  10. Divisions of the Creationplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.10: Divisions of the Creation

    Divisions of the Creation

    SB 3.10.1Śrī Vidura said: O great sage, please let me know how Brahmā, the grandfather of the planetary inhabitants, created the bodies of the living entities from his own body and mind after the disappearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  11. Calculation of Time, from the Atomplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.11: Calculation of Time, from the Atom

    Calculation of Time, from the Atom

    SB 3.11.1The material manifestation’s ultimate particle, which is indivisible and not formed into a body, is called the atom. It exists always as an invisible identity, even after the dissolution of all forms. The material body is but a combination of such atoms, but it is misunderstood by the common man.
  12. Creation of the Kumāras and Othersplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.12: Creation of the Kumāras and Others

    Creation of the Kumāras and Others

    SB 3.12.1Śrī Maitreya said: O learned Vidura, so far I have explained to you the glories of the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His feature of kāla. Now you can hear from me about the creation of Brahmā, the reservoir of all Vedic knowledge.
  13. The Appearance of Lord Varāhaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.13: The Appearance of Lord Varāha

    The Appearance of Lord Varāha

    SB 3.13.1Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, after hearing all these most virtuous topics from the sage Maitreya, Vidura inquired further on the topics of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which he adored to hear.SB 3.13.2Vidura said: O great sage, what did Svāyambhuva, the dear son of Brahmā, do after obtaining his very loving wife?
  14. Pregnancy of Diti in the Eveningplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.14: Pregnancy of Diti in the Evening

    Pregnancy of Diti in the Evening

    SB 3.14.1Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After hearing from the great sage Maitreya about the Lord’s incarnation as Varāha, Vidura, who had taken a vow, begged him with folded hands to please narrate further transcendental activities of the Lord, since he [Vidura] did not yet feel satisfied.
  15. Description of the Kingdom of Godplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.15: Description of the Kingdom of God

    Description of the Kingdom of God

    SB 3.15.1Śrī Maitreya said: My dear Vidura, Diti, the wife of the sage Kaśyapa, could understand that the sons within her womb would be a cause of disturbance to the demigods. As such, she continuously bore the powerful semen of Kaśyapa Muni, which was meant to give trouble to others, for one hundred years.
  16. The Two Doorkeepers of Vaikuṇṭha, Jaya and Vijaya, Cursed by the Sagesplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.16: The Two Doorkeepers of Vaikuṇṭha, Jaya and Vijaya, Cursed by the Sages

    The Two Doorkeepers of Vaikuṇṭha, Jaya and Vijaya, Cursed by the Sages

    SB 3.16.1Lord Brahmā said: After thus congratulating the sages for their nice words, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose abode is in the kingdom of God, spoke as follows.SB 3.16.2The Personality of Godhead said: These attendants of Mine, Jaya and Vijaya by name, have committed a great offense against you because of ignoring Me.
  17. Victory of Hiraṇyākṣa Over All the Directions of the Universeplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.17: Victory of Hiraṇyākṣa Over All the Directions of the Universe

    Victory of Hiraṇyākṣa Over All the Directions of the Universe

    SB 3.17.1Śrī Maitreya said: The demigods, the inhabitants of the higher planets, were freed from all fear upon hearing the cause of the darkness explained by Brahmā, who was born from Viṣṇu. Thus they all returned to their respective planets.
  18. The Battle Between Lord Boar and the Demon Hiraṇyākṣaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.18: The Battle Between Lord Boar and the Demon Hiraṇyākṣa

    The Battle Between Lord Boar and the Demon Hiraṇyākṣa

    SB 3.18.1Maitreya continued: The proud and falsely glorious Daitya paid little heed to the words of Varuṇa. O dear Vidura, he learned from Nārada the whereabouts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and hurriedly betook himself to the depths of the ocean.
  19. The Killing of the Demon Hiraṇyākṣaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.19: The Killing of the Demon Hiraṇyākṣa

    The Killing of the Demon Hiraṇyākṣa

    SB 3.19.1Śrī Maitreya said: After hearing the words of Brahmā, the creator, which were free from all sinful purposes and as sweet as nectar, the Lord heartily laughed and accepted his prayer with a glance laden with love.
  20. Conversation Between Maitreya and Viduraplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.20: Conversation Between Maitreya and Vidura

    Conversation Between Maitreya and Vidura

    SB 3.20.1Śrī Śaunaka inquired: O Sūta Gosvāmī, after the earth was again situated in its orbit, what did Svāyambhuva Manu do to show the path of liberation to persons who were to take birth later on?SB 3.20.2Śaunaka Ṛṣi inquired about Vidura, who was a great devotee and friend of Lord Kṛṣṇa and who gave up the company of his elder brother because the latter, along with his sons, played tricks against the desires of the Lord.
  21. Conversation Between Manu and Kardamaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.21: Conversation Between Manu and Kardama

    Conversation Between Manu and Kardama

    SB 3.21.1Vidura said: The line of Svāyambhuva Manu was most esteemed. O worshipful sage, I beg you---give me an account of this race, whose progeny multiplied through sexual intercourse.SB 3.21.2The two great sons of Svāyambhuva Manu
  22. The Marriage of Kardama Muni and Devahūtiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.22: The Marriage of Kardama Muni and Devahūti

    The Marriage of Kardama Muni and Devahūti

    SB 3.22.1Śrī Maitreya said: After describing the greatness of the Emperor’s manifold qualities and activities, the sage became silent, and the Emperor, feeling modesty, addressed him as follows.SB 3.22.2Manu replied: To expand himself in Vedic knowledge, Lord Brahmā, the personified Veda, from his face created you, the brāhmaṇas, who are full of austerity, knowledge and mystic power and are averse to sense gratification.
  23. Devahūti's Lamentationplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.23: Devahūti’s Lamentation

    Devahūti’s Lamentation

    SB 3.23.1Maitreya continued: After the departure of her parents, the chaste woman Devahūti, who could understand the desires of her husband, served him constantly with great love, as Bhavānī, the wife of Lord Śiva, serves her husband.
  24. The Renunciation of Kardama Muniplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.24: The Renunciation of Kardama Muni

    The Renunciation of Kardama Muni

    SB 3.24.1Recalling the words of Lord Viṣṇu, the merciful sage Kardama replied as follows to Svāyambhuva Manu’s praiseworthy daughter, Devahūti, who was speaking words full of renunciation.SB 3.24.2The sage said: Do not be disappointed with yourself, O princess. You are actually praiseworthy. The infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead will shortly enter your womb as your son.
  25. The Glories of Devotional Serviceplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.25: The Glories of Devotional Service

    The Glories of Devotional Service

    SB 3.25.1Śrī Śaunaka said: Although He is unborn, the Supreme Personality of Godhead took birth as Kapila Muni by His internal potency. He descended to disseminate transcendental knowledge for the benefit of the whole human race.
  26. Fundamental Principles of Material Natureplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.26: Fundamental Principles of Material Nature

    Fundamental Principles of Material Nature

    SB 3.26.1The Personality of Godhead, Kapila, continued: My dear mother, now I shall describe unto you the different categories of the Absolute Truth, knowing which any person can be released from the influence of the modes of material nature.
  27. Understanding Material Natureplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.27: Understanding Material Nature

    Understanding Material Nature

    SB 3.27.1The Personality of Godhead Kapila continued: When the living entity is thus unaffected by the modes of material nature, because he is unchanging and does not claim proprietorship, he remains apart from the reactions of the modes, although abiding in a material body, just as the sun remains aloof from its reflection on water.
  28. Kapila's Instructions on the Execution of Devotional Serviceplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.28: Kapila’s Instructions on the Execution of Devotional Service

    Kapila’s Instructions on the Execution of Devotional Service

    SB 3.28.1The Personality of Godhead said: My dear mother, O daughter of the King, now I shall explain to you the system of yoga, the object of which is to concentrate the mind. By practicing this system one can become joyful and progressively advance towards the path of the Absolute Truth.
  29. Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapilaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila

    Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila

    SB 3.29.1-2Devahūti inquired: My dear Lord, You have already very scientifically described the symptoms of the total material nature and the characteristics of the spirit according to the Sāṅkhya system of philosophy. Now I shall request You to explain the path of devotional service, which is the ultimate end of all philosophical systems.
  30. Description by Lord Kapila of Adverse Fruitive Activitiesplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.30: Description by Lord Kapila of Adverse Fruitive Activities

    Description by Lord Kapila of Adverse Fruitive Activities

    SB 3.30.1The Personality of Godhead said: As a mass of clouds does not know the powerful influence of the wind, a person engaged in material consciousness does not know the powerful strength of the time factor, by which he is being carried.
  31. Lord Kapila's Instructions on the Movements of the Living Entitiesplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.31: Lord Kapila’s Instructions on the Movements of the Living Entities

    Lord Kapila’s Instructions on the Movements of the Living Entities

    SB 3.31.1The Personality of Godhead said: Under the supervision of the Supreme Lord and according to the result of his work, the living entity, the soul, is made to enter into the womb of a woman through the particle of male semen to assume a particular type of body.
  32. Entanglement in Fruitive Activitiesplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.32: Entanglement in Fruitive Activities

    Entanglement in Fruitive Activities

    SB 3.32.1The Personality of Godhead said: The person who lives in the center of household life derives material benefits by performing religious rituals, and thereby he fulfills his desire for economic development and sense gratification. Again and again he acts the same way.
  33. Activities of Kapilaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigSB 3.33: Activities of Kapila

    Activities of Kapila

    SB 3.33.1Śrī Maitreya said: Thus Devahūti, the mother of Lord Kapila and wife of Kardama Muni, became freed from all ignorance concerning devotional service and transcendental knowledge. She offered her obeisances unto the Lord, the author of the basic principles of the Sāṅkhya system of philosophy, which is the background of liberation, and she satisfied Him with the following verses of prayer.