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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 12: Creation of the Kumāras and Others
3.12.343.12.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.12.35

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.12.20inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

चातुर्होत्रं कर्मतन्त्रमुपवेदनयै: सह ।

धर्मस्य पादाश्चत्वारस्तथैवाश्रमवृत्तय: ॥ ३५ ॥

cātur-hotraṁ karma-tantram

upaveda-nayaiḥ saha

dharmasya pādāś catvāras

tathaivāśrama-vṛttayaḥ

Translation

The four kinds of paraphernalia for conducting the fire sacrifice became manifest: the performer [the chanter], the offerer, the fire, and the action performed in terms of the supplementary Vedas. Also the four principles of religiosity [truth, austerity, mercy and cleanliness] and the duties in the four social orders all became manifest.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Human Progress Requires Religious Principles

  1. 1

    The means for conducting fire sacrifice became manifest, along with religious principles and duties in the four social orders.

  2. 2

    Truth, austerity, mercy and cleanliness are the four principles of religiosity. Religious duties distinguish human society from a life concerned only with bodily demands.

  3. 3

    The Vedic literatures establish duties according to social status and order of life. Those who traditionally follow these principles are called Āryans, or progressive human beings.

Key points from the purport
  • Eating, sleeping, defending and mating are the four principles of material bodily demands which are common to both the animals and human society.
  • To distinguish human society from the animals there is the performance of religious activities in terms of the social statuses and orders of life.
  • Thus the duties of humankind in terms of the statuses and social orders were established to be observed by the civilized man.

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 12: Creation of the Kumāras and Others

Brahmā’s creation continues with sages, Rudra, sacrificial practices, religious principles, and further forms of life.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. cātuḥfour
  2. hotramparaphernalia for sacrifice
  3. karmaaction
  4. tantramexpansions of such activities
  5. upavedasupplementary to the Vedas
  6. nayaiḥby logical conclusions
  7. sahaalong with
  8. dharmasyaof religiosity
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.12

    In this verse: “religiosity”, “duties”, “principles”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.12

    In this verse: “chanter”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.12

    In this verse: “mercy”

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

Which of the four religious principles needs more attention in my daily life?

Practice

Practice mercy today by offering one small act of help to someone.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHuman Progress Requires Religious PrinciplesThis 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 3.12.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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