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 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819

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 1 · Chapter 3: Kṛṣṇa Is the Source of All Incarnations
1.3.201.3.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.3.21

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.3.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तत: सप्तदशे जात: सत्यवत्यां पराशरात् ।

चक्रे वेदतरो: शाखा द‍ृष्ट्वा पुंसोऽल्पमेधस: ॥ २१ ॥

tataḥ saptadaśe jātaḥ

satyavatyāṁ parāśarāt

cakre veda-taroḥ śākhā

dṛṣṭvā puṁso ’lpa-medhasaḥ

Translation

Thereafter, in the seventeenth incarnation of Godhead, Śrī Vyāsadeva appeared in the womb of Satyavatī through Parāśara Muni, and he divided the one Veda into several branches and subbranches, seeing that the people in general were less intelligent.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Vyāsadeva Makes Vedic Knowledge More Accessible

  1. 1

    Śrīla Vyāsadeva divided the original one Veda into four: Sāma, Yajur, Ṛg and Atharva. These were further explained through branches such as the Purāṇas and the Mahābhārata.

  2. 2

    Vedic language and subject matter are difficult for ordinary people. Vyāsadeva divided this knowledge for those less able to understand it.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that birth in a twice-born family does not by itself ensure spiritual culture. The purificatory processes known as saṁskāras are expected, but their practice has declined in Kali.

Key points from the purport
  • But Śrīla Vyāsadeva divided the original Veda into four, namely Sāma, Yajur, Ṛg, Atharva, and then again they were explained in different branches like the Purāṇas and the Mahābhārata.
  • But these dvija-bandhus are classified amongst the śūdras and the women.
  • Śrīla Vyāsadeva divided the Vedas into various branches and subbranches for the sake of the less intelligent classes like the dvija-bandhus, śūdras and women.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥthereafter
  2. saptadaśein the seventeenth incarnation
  3. jātaḥadvented
  4. satyavatyāmin the womb of Satyavatī
  5. parāśarātby Parāśara Muni
  6. cakreprepared
  7. veda-taroḥof the desire tree of the Vedas
  8. śākhāḥbranches
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.3

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 1.3

    In this verse: “purificatory”

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

Do I approach spiritual learning with humility, recognizing my need for accessible instruction?

Practice

Study one short passage today and write its main teaching in your own simple words.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

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 todayVyāsadeva Makes Vedic Knowledge More AccessibleThis 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 1.3.21? 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