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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
3.12.563.13.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.12.57

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

आकूतिं रुचये प्रादात्कर्दमाय तु मध्यमाम् ।

दक्षायादात्प्रसूतिं च यत आपूरितं जगत् ॥ ५७ ॥

ākūtiṁ rucaye prādāt

kardamāya tu madhyamām

dakṣāyādāt prasūtiṁ ca

yata āpūritaṁ jagat

Translation

The father, Manu, handed over his first daughter, Ākūti, to the sage Ruci, the middle daughter, Devahūti, to the sage Kardama, and the youngest, Prasūti, to Dakṣa. From them, all the world filled with population.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Is Everyone’s Great-Grandfather

  1. 1

    Manu gave Ākūti to the sage Ruci, Devahūti to the sage Kardama, and Prasūti to Dakṣa. From them, the world filled with population.

  2. 2

    Brahmā is the original living creature in the universe, from whom Svāyambhuva Manu and Śatarūpā were generated. Since the population of the different planets descended from their family, Brahmā is known as everyone’s grandfather.

  3. 3

    The Personality of Godhead is the father of Brahmā and therefore the great-grandfather of all living beings. The prayer quoted in the purport offers respectful obeisances to Him again and again.

Key points from the purport
  • The history of the creation of the population of the universe is given herewith.
  • Brahmā is the original living creature in the universe, from whom were generated the Manu Svāyambhuva and his wife Śatarūpā.
  • Therefore, Brahmā is known as the grandfather of everyone, and the Personality of Godhead, being the father of Brahmā, is known as the great-grandfather of all living beings.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 3.12.57 quotesBG 11.39

This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (11.39) as follows: “You are the Lord of air, the supreme justice Yama, the fire, and the Lord of rains.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. ākūtimthe daughter named Ākūti
  2. rucayeunto the sage Ruci
  3. prādāthanded over
  4. kardamāyaunto the sage Kardama
  5. tubut
  6. madhyamāmthe middle one (Devahūti)
  7. dakṣāyaunto Dakṣa
  8. adāthanded over
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.12

    In this verse: “father”

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 does knowing the Personality of Godhead as everyone’s great-grandfather deepen your desire to honor Him?

Practice

Offer respectful obeisances to the Personality of Godhead, remembering Him as the great-grandfather of all living beings.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.12's connections

Live this todayThe Lord Is Everyone’s Great-GrandfatherThis 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 3.12.57? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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