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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 12: Creation of the Kumāras and Others
3.12.373.12.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.12.38

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.12.37inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

आयुर्वेदं धनुर्वेदं गान्धर्वं वेदमात्मन: ।

स्थापत्यं चासृजद् वेदं क्रमात्पूर्वादिभिर्मुखै: ॥ ३८ ॥

āyur-vedaṁ dhanur-vedaṁ

gāndharvaṁ vedam ātmanaḥ

sthāpatyaṁ cāsṛjad vedaṁ

kramāt pūrvādibhir mukhaiḥ

Translation

He also created the medical science, military art, musical art and architectural science, all from the Vedas. They all emanated one after another, beginning from the front face.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Practical Knowledge Supports Spiritual Pursuit

  1. 1

    Medical science, military art, musical art and architectural science all arose from the Vedas, one after another.

  2. 2

    The Vedas contain the knowledge needed by human society, on this planet and other planets as well. The purport includes military art and music among the knowledge needed for social order.

  3. 3

    Spiritual knowledge is the main topic of the Vedas. Other branches of knowledge help human beings in their spiritual pursuit.

Key points from the purport
  • The Vedas contain perfect knowledge, which includes all kinds of knowledge necessary for the human society, not only on this particular planet but on other planets as well.
  • All these groups of knowledge are called the Upapurāṇa, or supplements of the Vedas.
  • Spiritual knowledge is the main topic of the Vedas, but to help the human being’s spiritual pursuit of knowledge, the other information, as above mentioned, forms necessary branches of the Vedic knowledge.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. āyuḥ-vedammedical science
  2. dhanuḥ-vedammilitary science
  3. gāndharvammusical art
  4. vedamthey are all Vedic knowledge
  5. ātmanaḥof his own
  6. sthāpatyamarchitectural
  7. caalso
  8. asṛjatcreated
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 3.12

    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

How can the knowledge I use each day support my spiritual pursuit?

Practice

Write one concrete way a skill you already have can support your spiritual learning.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPractical Knowledge Supports Spiritual PursuitThis 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 3.12.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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