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

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Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 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 3 · Chapter 10: Divisions of the Creation
3.10.223.10.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.10.23

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

खरोऽश्वोऽश्वतरो गौर: शरभश्चमरी तथा ।

एते चैकशफा: क्षत्त: श‍ृणु पञ्चनखान् पशून् ॥ २३ ॥

kharo ’śvo ’śvataro gauraḥ

śarabhaś camarī tathā

ete caika-śaphāḥ kṣattaḥ

śṛṇu pañca-nakhān paśūn

Translation

The horse, mule, ass, gaura, śarabha bison and wild cow all have only one hoof. Now you may hear from me about the animals who have five nails.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Animals With One Hoof

  1. 1

    The horse, mule and ass are described as having only one hoof.

  2. 2

    The gaura, śarabha bison and wild cow are included in the same group.

  3. 3

    After listing these animals, the speaker invites the listener to hear about animals with five nails.

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. kharaḥass
  2. aśvaḥhorse
  3. aśvataraḥmule
  4. gauraḥwhite deer
  5. śarabhaḥbison
  6. camarīwild cow
  7. tathāthus
  8. eteall these
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

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

Am I listening carefully to the distinctions made in this description?

Practice

Write down the six animals included in this verse’s one-hoof group.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAnimals With One HoofThis 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 3.10.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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