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 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233

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 3 · Chapter 10: Divisions of the Creation
3.10.203.10.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.10.21

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.10.11inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तिरश्चामष्टम: सर्ग: सोऽष्टाविंशद्विधो मत: ।

अविदो भूरितमसो घ्राणज्ञा ह्यद्यवेदिन: ॥ २१ ॥

tiraścām aṣṭamaḥ sargaḥ

so ’ṣṭāviṁśad-vidho mataḥ

avido bhūri-tamaso

ghrāṇa-jñā hṛdy avedinaḥ

Translation

The eighth creation is that of the lower species of life, and they are of different varieties, numbering twenty-eight. They are all extensively foolish and ignorant. They know their desirables by smell, but are unable to remember anything within the heart.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Lower Animals Have Limited Knowledge

  1. 1

    The eighth creation consists of lower animals, divided into twenty-eight varieties. Their knowledge is covered by extensive ignorance.

  2. 2

    Their knowledge is concerned with hunger, thirst, eating and sleeping. Through smell they recognize what is favorable or unfavorable.

  3. 3

    The purport explains that even tigers can be tamed by regularly providing meals and sleeping accommodations. Snakes are stated to be an exception.

Key points from the purport
  • Extensively ignorant, they can know their desirables only by smell, and by such intelligence only can they understand what is favorable and unfavorable.
  • Therefore, even the most ferocious lower animals, such as tigers, can be tamed simply by regularly supplying meals and accommodations for sleeping.
  • Only snakes cannot be tamed by such an arrangement.

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

Mystery → Cosmic wonder. The origin of the world is revealed through inquiry and divine grace.

Chapters 5–12 of Canto 3: Creation and Brahmā's bewilderment. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 10: Divisions of the Creation

Maitreya explains the divisions of creation and Brahmā’s preparation of planetary homes for living entities.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tiraścāmspecies of lower animals
  2. aṣṭamaḥthe eighth
  3. sargaḥcreation
  4. saḥthey are
  5. aṣṭāviṁśattwenty-eight
  6. vidhaḥvarieties
  7. mataḥconsidered
  8. avidaḥwithout knowledge of tomorrow
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.10

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.10

    In this verse: “favorable”

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 this description help me understand about the limits of animal knowledge?

Practice

Write down the basic needs that the purport says occupy animal awareness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLower Animals Have Limited 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 3.10.21? 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