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

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Canto 11 · General History · 31 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 11 · Chapter 17: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Description of the Varṇāśrama System
11.17.1111.17.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.17.12

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.17.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

त्रेतामुखे महाभाग प्राणान्मे हृदयात्‍त्रयी ।

विद्या प्रादुरभूत्तस्या अहमासं त्रिवृन्मख: ॥ १२ ॥

tretā-mukhe mahā-bhāga

prāṇān me hṛdayāt trayī

vidyā prādurabhūt tasyā

aham āsaṁ tri-vṛn makhaḥ

Translation

O greatly fortunate one, at the beginning of Tretā-yuga Vedic knowledge appeared from My heart, which is the abode of the air of life, in three divisions — as Ṛg, Sāma and Yajur. Then from that knowledge I appeared as threefold sacrifice.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Appears Through Vedic Sacrifice

  1. 1

    At the beginning of Tretā-yuga, Vedic knowledge appears from the Lord’s heart in three divisions: Ṛg, Sāma and Yajur. The Lord then appears as threefold sacrifice.

  2. 2

    In Tretā-yuga, the bull of religion loses one leg, and seventy-five percent of religious principles remain manifested. Vedic sacrifice is the authorized process for spiritual perfection in that age.

  3. 3

    The hotā priest offers oblations and chants the Ṛg Veda; the udgātā priest chants the Sāma Veda. The adhvaryu priest arranges the sacrificial setting and chants the Yajur Veda.

Key points from the purport
  • In Tretā-yuga, the bull of religion loses one leg, and only seventy-five percent of religious principles are manifested, represented by the three principal Vedas — Ṛg, Sāma and Yajur.
  • The Lord appears in the process of threefold Vedic sacrifice.
  • In Tretā-yuga such sacrifice is the authorized process for spiritual perfection.

The purport'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

Uncertainty → Clarity. The coming separation makes the instruction personally urgent.

Chapters 10–20 of Canto 11: Kṛṣṇa's teachings on self, yoga and wisdom. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 17: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Description of the Varṇāśrama System

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In the following age, Tretā-yuga, there became manifest from the heart of the Supreme Personality of Godhead the three Vedas, and from them the three forms of the sacrificial fire. At that time the system of four varṇas and four āśramas, which prescribes material and spiritual duties for the different members of society, appeared from the bodily limbs of the Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tretā-mukheat the beginning of Tretā-yuga
  2. mahā-bhāgaO greatly fortunate one
  3. prāṇātfrom the abode of prāṇa, or the life air
  4. meMy
  5. hṛdayātfrom the heart
  6. trayīthe threefold
  7. vidyāVedic knowledge
  8. prādurabhūtappeared
3

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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 11.17

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 11.17

    In this verse: “religion”, “principles”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 11.17

    In this verse: “chants”

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

How does knowing that Vedic knowledge comes from the Lord deepen your respect for it?

Practice

Read the translation once more, focusing on the Lord as the source of Vedic knowledge and the presence within sacrifice.

Live this todayThe Lord Appears Through Vedic SacrificeThis 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.

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