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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 13: The Appearance of Lord Varāha
3.13.103.13.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.13.11

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 3.13.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

स त्वमस्यामपत्यानि सद‍ृशान्यात्मनो गुणै: ।

उत्पाद्य शास धर्मेण गां यज्ञै: पुरुषं यज ॥ ११ ॥

sa tvam asyām apatyāni

sadṛśāny ātmano guṇaiḥ

utpādya śāsa dharmeṇa

gāṁ yajñaiḥ puruṣaṁ yaja

Translation

Since you are my very obedient son, I ask you to beget children qualified like yourself in the womb of your wife. Rule the world in pursuance of the principles of devotional service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus worship the Lord by performances of yajña.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Make Life an Offering of Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Family life carries the responsibility to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Begetting qualified children is meant as a sacrifice for His worship, not merely for sense enjoyment.

  2. 2

    Viṣṇu worship is the ultimate aim of human life. The varṇāśrama system provides a systematic way to advance in that worship through one's duties.

  3. 3

    One who directly engages in devotional service may not need the disciplinary system of varṇāśrama-dharma. The Kumāras followed this path of direct devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • Every human being should beget nice children in the womb of his wife, as a sacrifice for the purpose of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead in devotional service.
  • However, if one directly engages in the process of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it may not be necessary to undergo the disciplinary system of varṇāśrama-dharma.
  • The other sons of Brahmā, the Kumāras, directly engaged in devotional service, and thus they had no need to execute the principles of varṇāśrama-dharma.

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

Threat and anger → Rescue and wonder. Divine protection appears amid cosmic confrontation.

Chapters 13–19 of Canto 3: Varāha, Jaya and Vijaya, Hiraṇyākṣa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 13: The Appearance of Lord Varāha

Lord Varāha appears from Brahmā’s nose, lifts the submerged earth, and receives the sages’ prayers.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.13
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥtherefore that obedient son
  2. tvamas you are
  3. asyāmin her
  4. apatyānichildren
  5. sadṛśāniequally qualified
  6. ātmanaḥof yourself
  7. guṇaiḥwith the characteristics
  8. utpādyahaving begotten
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.13

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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “worship”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “children”

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 one of your daily responsibilities become service to the Lord rather than merely a source of enjoyment?

Practice

Choose one household responsibility and perform it today with the intention of pleasing the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMake Life an Offering of Devotional ServiceThis 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.

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