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

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 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 1 · Chapter 3: Kṛṣṇa Is the Source of All Incarnations
1.3.111.3.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.3.12

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.3.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तत: सप्तम आकूत्यां रुचेर्यज्ञोऽभ्यजायत ।

स यामाद्यै: सुरगणैरपात्स्वायम्भुवान्तरम् ॥ १२ ॥

tataḥ saptama ākūtyāṁ

rucer yajño ’bhyajāyata

sa yāmādyaiḥ sura-gaṇair

apāt svāyambhuvāntaram

Translation

The seventh incarnation was Yajña, the son of Prajāpati Ruci and his wife Ākūti. He controlled the period during the change of the Svāyambhuva Manu and was assisted by demigods such as His son Yāma.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Takes Charge When Needed

  1. 1

    Lord Yajña appeared as the son of Prajāpati Ruci and Ākūti. He administered universal affairs during the period of Svāyambhuva Manu.

  2. 2

    The demigods' administrative posts are entrusted to highly elevated, pious living beings. When suitable beings are lacking, the Lord Himself takes charge.

  3. 3

    During that period, no suitable living being could occupy the post of Indra. Lord Yajña filled that position, assisted by His sons such as Yāma and other demigods.

Key points from the purport
  • When there is a scarcity of such pious living beings, the Lord incarnates Himself as Brahmā, Prajāpati, Indra, etc., and takes up the charge.
  • During the period of Svāyambhuva Manu (the present period is of Vaivasvata Manu) there was no suitable living being who could occupy the post of Indra, the King of the Indraloka (heaven) planet.
  • Assisted by His own sons like Yāma and other demigods, Lord Yajña ruled the administration of the universal affairs.

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

Concern → Purpose. A spiritually urgent question emerges for the age of Kali.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 1: The sages ask the ultimate questions. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: Kṛṣṇa Is the Source of All Incarnations

Sūta describes the Lord’s incarnations and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as His literary incarnation.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.3
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥafter that
  2. saptamethe seventh in the line
  3. ākūtyāmin the womb of Ākūti
  4. ruceḥby Prajāpati Ruci
  5. yajñaḥthe Lord’s incarnation as Yajña
  6. abhyajāyataadvented
  7. saḥHe
  8. yāma-ādyaiḥwith Yāma and others
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.3

    In this verse: “administrative”

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

What does the Lord's willingness to take charge teach you about His care for the world?

Practice

Spend a minute remembering Lord Yajña's care for universal affairs and offer a brief prayer of appreciation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayThe Lord Takes Charge When NeededThis 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 1.3.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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