 An Overview of Srimad Bhagavatam Canto Three

What follows is an early draft of a chapter by chapter summary of 
the pastimes and philosophy within Srimad Bhagavatam Canto Three. 
Chapter's story-line is followed by a list of major 
philosophical points from the verses and Srila Prabhupada's 
purports in that chapter. By making note of the philosophical 
points as they are presented from one chapter to the next we get 
a feel for the philosophical continuity as it develops in the 
Canto. The philosophical points I list are not "the 
philosophical points but they rather are those that seemed to 
me as either of primary importance or thematic as I read through 
the chapters. 

 Chapter One
 Questions by Vidura

 At the end of Canto Two (2.10.48 - 50) Saunaka Rsi inquires 
from Suta Gosvami about Vidura for Saunaka heard previously 
about Vidura's having met with Maitreya Muni while on pilgrimage 
(1.13.1). Canto Three (Chapter One) thus begins with Suta 
Gosvami replying to Saunaka (which repeats Maharaja Pariksit 
inquiry from Sukadeva Gosvami) about the meeting and discussion 
between Vidura and Maitreya Muni. (3 - 5)
 King Dhrtarastra overwhelmed by illusion had not stopped 
his son Duryodhana's deadly plots against the Pandavas. 
Dhrtarastra then asked advice from Vidura and Vidura plainly 
told the King to give up his affection for Duryodhana who was 
envious of Lord Krsna. Duryodhana became furious and insulted 
Vidura ordering him thrown out of the palace. Vidura thus left 
the palace in Hastinapura for pilgrimage. (6 - 16) After many years 
on pilgrimage Vidura met the great devotee and associate of Sri 
Krsna Uddhava on the bank of the Yamuna River. (17 - 24) Vidura 
inquired from Uddhava about Krsna's family members including 
Dhrtarastra and then requested Uddhava to speak the glories of 
Lord Krsna. (25 - 45)

1. The positive fruit of pilgrimage where one leaves home to 
travel to holy places while fearlessly depending on the Lord is 
finding a sadhu and hearing from him about Krsna. (17- 24)

 Chapter Two and Chapter Three
 Remembrance of Lord Krsna
 and
 The Lord's pastimes out of Vrindaban

 Uddhava became ecstatic to hear Vidura's questions for he 
had been a great devotee of the Lord since his childhood. (2. - 6) 
Uddhava feelingly and briefly mentions the disappearance of the 
Lord and the Yadu dynasty from this earth as well as Krsna's 
glorious appearance. (2. - 15) While feeling separation Uddhava 
began remembering the Lord's inconceivable activities while on 
this earth including His birth and ending with His lifting 
Govardhana Hill and His dancing with the gopis of Braja. (2.1 -
34)
 Uddhava continued to narrate Krsna's pastimes after leaving 
Vrindaban (3.- 23) as well as the going of the Yadu dynasty to 
Prabhaksetra the place where by the desire of the Lord the 
Yadu dynasty members left the earth. (3.2 - 27)

1. One should use one's life to become an advanced devotee of 
Krsna which continues to develop step by step from one birth to 
the next until one achieves the platform of ecstatic love 
(2.- 6)
2. Krsna appears in this world to protect His devotees. He 
displayed His transcendental pastimes of Vrindaban Mathura and 
Dvaraka to attract the conditioned souls by His beautiful form 
and unparalleled activities with His eternal devotees. He was 
appreciated differently according to the spiritual advancement of 
those who saw Him and only those who possessed His full mercy 
could know Him fully. (2.- 15)
3. Only devotees by their rendering of devotional service have 
access to fully understanding the pastimes Krsna exhibited on 
earth. Those pastimes are wonderful unrivaled inconceivable 
executed by the Lord's internal potency exemplary merciful 
seemingly contradictory and human-like. (2.1- 34 3.- 23 4.- 3)

 Chapter Four
 Vidura Approaches Maitreya

 Uddhava continues explaining the events leading to the 
annihilation of the Yadu dynasty (- 3) and then explained his 
meeting with the Lord just prior to His departure from this 
world. Uddhava followed the Lord after the Lord left Dvaraka due 
to his intense feelings of separation. He later met the Lord as 
he saw the Lord sitting beneath a tree by the bank of the 
Sarasvati River. Maitreya Muni by his good fortune arrived and 
as the Lord spoke to Uddhava Maitreya listened. (- 9) Krsna 
affectionately told Uddhava that Uddhava would soon attain to 
Vaikuntha. He also mentioned that He had previously spoken Srimad 
Bhagavatam to Lord Brahma. This prompted Uddhava whose only 
desire was to serve the Lord's lotus feet to inquire about the 
Lord's inconceivable pastimes and the same transcendental 
knowledge that the Lord had previously revealed to Brahma. (1i
19)
 Uddhava told Vidura that he after having heard the Lord's 
instructions feeling great separation was now proceeding to 
Badarikasrama as per the Lord's desire. Uddhava was about to 
leave for the North and Vidura questioned him further about the 
instructions he had received from the Lord. Uddhava who was 
younger than Vidura requested Vidura to hear those instructions 
from Maitreya Muni who both was senior and was nearby. Uddhava 
and Vidura spent the entire night which passed as if a moment 
discussing the Lord and in the morning Uddhava continued to 
Badarikasrama. (4.2- 27) 
 Pariksit Maharaja inquired as to why Uddhava alone among 
the members of the Yadu dynasty was requested by the Lord to 
remain in this world. Sukadeva Gosvami then explained that the 
Lord felt Uddhava qualified to entrust with disseminating 
transcendental knowledge about Himself. 
 Vidura after hearing from Uddhava about the appearance and 
disappearance of Lord Krsna from this world proceeded to Haridvar 
along the Ganges bank to meet Maitreya Muni. (2- 32)

1. The highest goal which is achievable only by pure devotees 
who have no desire for karma and jnana is to attain the personal 
association and service of the Lord in Vaikuntha. (- 16)
2. To properly understand Krsna and His pastimes one must be a 
devotee and hear about Him from His pure devotee - spiritual 
master. Only a devotee can give one the proper understanding as 
he has heard about the Lord in disciplic succession. (1- 32)

 Chapter Five
 Vidura's Talks with Maitreya

 Vidura met Maitreya and inquired from him about the cause of 
real happiness and requested Maitreya to instruct him how to 
become sufficiently purified so that the Lord would instruct 
him from within. Vidura then inquired about how the Lord 
incarnates and how He creates and maintains both the material 
world and the varieties of living entities. (- 9) Vidura 
next requested Maitreya to answer his questions in such a way 
that his words all have to do with Krsna. He then glorifies the 
power of Krsna-katha and its medicinal effect on those who hear 
it and again requests Maitreya to speak about the essence of all 
topics - topics about Krsna. (1- 16) 
 Maitreya honored Vidura's exalted position as an eternal 
associate of the Lord (1- 22) and began describing how the Lord 
extended His transcendental potency for the continuous creation 
maintenance and dissolution of the cosmic world. Maitreya 
describes the Lord as the Supreme proprietor who desiring to 
create impregnates the three modes of nature and causes the 
appearance of the living entities. Thereafter the ingredients of 
creation evolve one after another beginning with false ego and 
continuing to the mind intelligence the elements the sense 
objects the senses and the demigods. (2- 37) After the demigods 
were created they found themselves unable to perform their 
duties as the elements which had already been created were not 
combining. They thus prayed to the Lord for assistance first 
glorifying the shelter of His lotus feet (3- 44) then comparing 
the results obtained by devotees and jnanis (4- 47) and finally 
requesting the Lord for the ability to serve for His pleasure 
(4- 51).

1. The Lord creates the material world maintains it empowers 
compassionate devotees incarnates Himself and helps from within 
as Supersoul. His purpose is to allow the insubordinate and 
rebellious living entities the opportunity to attempt material 
enjoyment according to their desires and karma and by doing so 
learn that only devotional service - not material circumstances 
including attempts by jnana and karma - will satisfy them. (- 9)
2. One should hear only about Krsna for hearing purifies one of 
family and other material attachment. It brings remembrance of 
Krsna and vanquishes misery. (1- 16)
3. Maitreya Muni begins describing the chatur-sloki Bhagavatam. 
The Lord is the original cause of the creation of the material 
world. He is the source of the living entities who are His parts 
and parcels. All emanates from Him. His help in creation is 
needed at every step. (1- 25 36)
4. The living entities are foreign to the material world. By the 
influence of time the Lord places them within matter causing 
them to forget their real ego (their identity as Krsna's 
servants) and thus adopt inappropriate independent desires. (2i
31)
5. The universe is created by the Lord to give a chance to the 
fallen living entity to surrender and give up his independent 
consciousness through devotional service and remembering the 
Lord. (2- 31)
6. To go back to Godhead even if one has material desires one 
should pray for the Lord's shelter hear Krsna-katha give up 
mayavadi philosophy perform sacrifices take prasadam and act 
as the Lord's servant in His service. (3- 51)

 Chapter Six
 Creation of the Universal Form

 The Lord heard from the demigods that the creation was 
suspended due to the elements not combining. He thus entered into 
the elements along with His external energy Kali (time) who 
alone amalgamates all the different elements and thus the living 
entities were again able to engage in activities. When the 
twenty-three principle elements were set into action the Virata 
Rupa the Universal Form of the Lord came into existence. The 
Lord Himself then entered into the elements and they transformed 
into the gigantic form in which rests all the planetary systems 
and movable and immovable creations. (- 5)
 The Virata Rupa known as Hiranmaya along with the living 
entities lived on the water of the universe for one thousand 
years. (The Lord manifest the Virata Rupa form in response to 
the prayers of the demigods so that they would have directions 
by which they could perform their universal functions.) (- 10)
 The demigods next entered various aspects of the Universal 
Form and creation took place of the senses the elements sense 
and mental power places of residence ego consciousness Vedic 
wisdom and the varnas. These are all meant for worship of the 
Lord and self-realization under the care of the spiritual master. 
(1- 34) Maitreya then glorified the inconceivable Lord who 
possesses unlimited power. He then offered the Lord his 
respectful obeisances. (3- 40)

1. The creation's source is the Lord and it proceeds by the will 
of the Lord. (1- 3)
2. The Lord is a person and is the source of the Universal Form. 
He is also the source of all the universal manifestations the 
living entities the Visnu-tattva forms and the consciousness of 
the living entities. All are meant for His service. Speculators 
cannot understand this. (- 10)
3. The varnasrama system is necessary for the progressive 
purification and spiritual advancement of human society. (3- 34)
4. The glories of the Lord are inconceivable and He is the 
origin of the Brahman and Paramatma features of the Absolute 
Truth. He is knowable only by devotional service and it is our 
duty to glorify the unlimited Lord as far as possible. (3- 40)

 Chapter Seven

 Vidura further inquired from Maitreya about the Lord's 
dealings both within and independent from the modes of nature. He 
also inquired how a soul who is nonmaterial can be engaged in 
nescience. He then asked how the living entity can possibly be 
miserable considering he has the Lord as Supersoul within his 
heart. (- 7) Maitreya replied that the Lord remains at all times 
unconditioned and free from maya and that the living entity has 
nothing to do with matter. He describes the living entity's 
connection with matter as illusory and compares it to one 
experiencing in a dream that his own head has been cut off. 
Maitreya explains that one's illusory misconception of his 
identity and the consequent material miseries can be gradually 
diminished by the Supreme Personality of Godhead's mercy and 
detached devotional service - chanting and hearing about the Lord. 
(- 14)
 Vidura was satisfied by Maitreya's answers - confirming that 
the soul's miseries are due only to his connection with maya - and 
he glorified the process of inquiring from and serving a 
spiritual master (1- 20). He then inquired about the further 
creation of the material world asking about the creation after 
the Virata Rupa. He asked about the further increase of 
population in the universe about Brahma, the Manus, Siva, Visnu 
the incarnations, how the Lord can be satisified, the 
dissolutions and other topics. He expressed his actual purpose 
in asking these questions - to know the pastimes of Hari and to 
become fixed in His service. (2- 42). 

1. The Lord when performing His activities within the material 
world is never in any way connected to the material world. (9)
2. The living entities however due to their being 
insignificantly small are overpowered by the illusory energy and 
they thus experience themselves as material although they too 
in fact have nothing to do with matter. They therefore due to 
illusion suffer as if they were matter and as if they were 
always changing. (1- 11)
3. The gradual process of getting free from this entanglement are 
varnasrama charity and piety but the best and fastest process 
of deliverance is hearing Hari katha. (1- 14)
4. All miseries are gradually vanquished by giving up the mood 
that "i am the predominator, through good association 
transcendental knowledge devotional service and taking shelter 
of a mahatma and hearing from him Krsna katha. (1- 20)

 Chapter Eight
 Manifestation of Brahma from Visnu

 Maitreya Muni began to reply saying that he would now speak 
the Bhagavat Purana which he heard in disciplic succession from 
the time when Anantadeva spoke it to the Four Kumaras. Maitreya 
Muni had heard the Bhagavatam from his spiritual master 
Parasara Muni who had heard it from Sanhkyayana Muni who had 
heard it directly from the Four Kumaras. (- 9) Maitreya began 
narrating how Garbhodakasayi Visnu lay upon Ananta on the universal 
waters for four thousand yuga cycles until the time was proper 
for the creation. By the power of time from His navel came an 
effulgent stem from which first a lotus (which the Lord entered 
as Supersoul impregnating it with the modes of material nature) 
and then Lord Brahma appeared. (1- 15)
 Lord Brahma could not understand the creation the lotus or 
himself even after entering the water through the stem of the 
lotus. He then focused his mind on the Supreme Lord. After one 
hundred years of meditation he had achieved sufficient knowledge 
and a sufficient amount of the Lord's mercy (1- 22) to see within 
himself the beautifully ornamented Lord on Ananta Sesa. The Lord 
showed Brahma His lotus feet. Thus everything became visible to 
Brahma and he surcharged with passion became inclined to 
create. He then offered prayers to the Lord for the ability to do 
so. (2- 33)

1. To hear Hari katha Srimad Bhagavatam one should hear it as 
it was spoken in disciplic succession. One can become a speaker 
of the Bhagavatam only by achieving the blessing of one's 
superiors. (- 9)
2. To find out the ultimate cause of our existence something 
that every intelligent man will inquire about one must perform 
self-surrendered pure devotional service. (1- 22)
3. Pure devotional service is so powerful that it even places the 
All-Attractive Lord in one's debt. It is the only means to award 
one with the Lord's personal association. (2- 27)

 Chapter Nine
 Brahma's Prayers for Creative Energy

 Brahma glorified the Lord as the only knowable object the 
supreme form who possesses no superior aspect. i surrender to 
You said Brahma as you are untouched by matter and are the 
protector. (- 10) Even if one takes shelter of the Lord to 
satisfy his material desires said Lord Brahma that is far 
superior than attempting to satisfy the demigods for material 
gain. (1- 13) The Lord is the prime root of the planetary 
systems eternal time and the enjoyer of all sacrifices. Thus 
Lord Brahma offered the Lord his respect obeisances. (1- 19) 
Brahma described the Lord's mystical sleep and prayed that now 
that His sleep had ended the Lord should be merciful to him a 
surrendered devotee. Brahma then expressed his desire to create 
the material world and be unaffected materially by that work of 
creation. Brahma requested the Lord's direction on proceeding to 
create the universe and became silent. (2- 26)
 The Lord saw that Brahma was anxious about constructing the 
universe and He mercifully removed Brahma's anxiety by informing 
him that that which Brahma was requesting had already been 
granted Brahma would be able to know everything from within his 
heart. The Lord than reminded Brahma of his attempt to find his 
source by entering the water through the lotus flower and that 
He the Lord had now revealed Himself. The Lord then said that 
he would fulfill the desires of anyone who worships and prays to 
Him as Brahma did as it is He who is the only proper object of 
attachment. The Lord then disappeared. (2- 44)

1. The Lord's has many forms. All are transcendental and can be 
understood only by the Lord's causeless mercy awarded through 
devotional service. They are expanded for the happiness of the 
pure devotees whose only desire is to serve Him. (- 6)
2. Unfortunate souls are adverse to hearing Krsna katha. The 
devotees who take responsibility to make these souls fortunate 
become confidential servitors of the Lord. The unfortunate 
conditioned souls should give up their independent plans and 
surrender to the Lord in devotional service. (- 10)
3. The Lord reciprocates with a devotee who desires to serve the 
Lord in a specific way. He does so by appearing within his heart 
in the specific form that the devotee wishes to serve. (1)
4. Demigods worship the Lord but have material attachment. Pure 
devotees act for the Lord's desire and worship Him with no 
material attachment. Nondevotees due to their selfishness 
stubbornness and offensiveness do not become devotees. But by 
the mercy of devotees they can learn to offer the results of 
their work for His satisfaction and get permanent benefit from 
their temporary activities. (12- 13)
5. The Lord exists in His internal potency although His 
activities at times imitate those of humans. He is above the 
modes of nature and should always be worshiped. One should offer 
obeisances to the Lord regardless of the form in which the Lord 
appears for the Lord's form is always unlimited transcendental 
and worshipable. (1- 21)
7. Devotees need blessings from the Lord so they may do their 
service. They also need His blessings so the material energy will 
not contaminate them. (2- 25)
8. The Lord awards mercy ability and protection to those who 
serve him with devotion. He also instructs them from within their 
hearts. Thus the devotee by the Lord's mercy learns to see the 
Lord everywhere which makes him immune to material 
contamination. The Lord does award His devotees unlimited mercy 
for the Lord is especially inclined to His devotees. (2- 40) 
9. One should endeavor only to satisfy the Lord. One should 
become attached only to the Lord. (4- 44)

 Chapter Ten 
 Divisions of Creation

 Vidura asked how Brahma created the bodies of the living 
entities and Maitreya described how Brahma after the departure 
of the Lord sat upon the lotus and performed devotional penances 
for one hundred celestial years. Brahma thereafter drank the 
water and wind which made his lotus tremble. He thus could see 
that the lotus on which he sat was spread throughout the 
universe. He entered the lotus and created the fourteen planetary 
systems for the inhabitation of the different varieties of living 
entities. (- 9) Vidura asked Maitreya about eternal time and 
Maitreya replied that time was the Lord's energy more or less an 
intersection between Himself and the material world and as the 
source of the interaction of the three modes of nature it moves 
all. Time thus creates the cosmos. (1- 13)
 Maitreya then explained the nine divisions of creation 
occurring due to time as 1. Maha-tattva 2. false ego 3. sense 
perceptions 4. knowledge and working capacity 5. the 
controlling deities. (These are natural creations of the Lord's 
external energy. The remaining four creations are by Brahma.) 6. 
avidya or ignorance 7. the immovable entities 8. the lower 
species of life and 9. human beings. The tenth creation is the 
demigods. After describing the creations Maitreya offered to 
describe the descendants of Manu. (1- 30)

1. Time controls everything within this and all universes and it 
acts upon all those in bodily consciousness. Time is under the 
control of the Supreme Lord. ( - 14)

 Chapter Eleven
 
 Before beginning to describe the descendants of Manu 
Maitreya continues his description of time by defining it so that 
it can be measured within space. He does this by describing the 
paramanu the atom and describes time's basic unit as the amount 
of time that it takes for one atom to combine into six. Maitreya 
building from that basic unit describes time units comparable to 
seconds hours weeks months and years and as time units that 
measure the orbits of planets. (- 15)
 Vidura then requests Maitreya to describe the duration of 
life of the residents of higher planets who are beyond the range 
of the destruction at the end of Brahma's day. Maitreya describes 
the length of time of yugas the days and nights of Brahma 
Manu's lifespan partial destructions at the end of Brahma's day 
and greater destructions at the end of Brahma's life. (1- 38)
 Although no one in bodily consciousness escapes the 
destructive force of time time itself is under the Supreme 
Lord's control. The universe is huge in diameter and its 
coverings are even greater in size yet the Supreme Lord Sri 
Krsna is the origin cause of all causes. His abode differing 
from all created within matter is eternal. (3- 42)

1. Time controls everything within this and all universes and it 
acts upon all those in bodily consciousness. Time is under the 
control of the Supreme Lord. (3- 42)

