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

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Canto 12 · The Age of Deterioration · 13 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 12 · Chapter 3: The Bhūmi-gītā
12.3.3712.3.39-40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 12.3.38

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 12.3.18inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

शूद्रा: प्रतिग्रहीष्यन्ति तपोवेषोपजीविन: ।

धर्मं वक्ष्यन्त्यधर्मज्ञा अधिरुह्योत्तमासनम् ॥ ३८ ॥

śūdrāḥ pratigrahīṣyanti

tapo-veṣopajīvinaḥ

dharmaṁ vakṣyanty adharma-jñā

adhiruhyottamāsanam

Translation

Uncultured men will accept charity on behalf of the Lord and will earn their livelihood by making a show of austerity and wearing a mendicant’s dress. Those who know nothing about religion will mount a high seat and presume to speak on religious principles.

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.

Religious Appearance Is Not Religious Knowledge

  1. 1

    Uncultured men will accept charity on behalf of the Lord. They will make their livelihood through a show of austerity and a mendicant's dress.

  2. 2

    People who know nothing about religion will occupy a high seat and presume to teach religious principles.

  3. 3

    The purport identifies this as an epidemic of bogus gurus, swamis and priests. Dress, austerity and position do not by themselves establish religious knowledge.

Key points from the purport
  • The epidemic of bogus gurus, swamis, priests and so forth is explicitly described here.

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

Civilizational dread → Dispassion. Social and cosmic impermanence expose the limits of worldly plans.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 12: The deterioration of Kali and universal dissolution. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: The Bhūmi-gītā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In the age of Satya, religion was complete, still possessing its four legs of truth, mercy, austerity and charity. With the coming of each succeeding age, starting with Tretā, these religious qualities each diminish by one quarter.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 12.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śūdrāḥlowly, common workers
  2. pratigrahīṣyantiwill accept religious charity
  3. tapaḥby shows of austerity
  4. veṣaand by dressing as mendicants
  5. upajīvinaḥearning their living
  6. dharmamthe principles of religion
  7. vakṣyantiwill speak about
  8. adharma-jñāḥthose who know nothing about religion
  9. adhiruhyamounting
  10. uttama-āsanama high seat
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 12.3

    In this verse: “religion”, “principles”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 12.3

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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 judge a religious teacher by outward appearance or by genuine knowledge of religious principles?

Practice

Before accepting one religious claim today, examine its teaching rather than the speaker's clothing or status.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReligious Appearance Is Not Religious KnowledgeThis 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 12.3.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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