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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
3.13.113.13.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.13.12

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 ॥

paraṁ śuśrūṣaṇaṁ mahyaṁ

syāt prajā-rakṣayā nṛpa

bhagavāṁs te prajā-bhartur

hṛṣīkeśo ’nutuṣyati

Translation

O King, if you can give proper protection to the living beings in the material world, that will be the best service for me. When the Supreme Lord sees you to be a good protector of the conditioned souls, certainly the master of the senses will be very pleased with you.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Protect Others by Supporting Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Proper protection of living beings pleases the Supreme Lord. Administration is meant to help people go back home, back to Godhead.

  2. 2

    A ruler's responsibility is not merely to collect taxes. Citizens should be educated in Viṣṇu worship and engaged in devotional service.

  3. 3

    Hṛṣīkeśa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the owner of the senses. Our purpose is to satisfy His senses rather than our material senses.

Key points from the purport
  • The whole administrative system is arranged for the purpose of going back home, back to Godhead.
  • The conditioned souls are meant not to satisfy their material senses but to satisfy the senses of Hṛṣīkeśa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • By training the citizens in the devotional service of the Lord, the head of a state can be free in his responsibility; otherwise he will fail in the onerous duty entrusted to him and thus be punishable by the supreme authority.

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. paramthe greatest
  2. śuśrūṣaṇamdevotional service
  3. mahyamunto me
  4. syātshould be
  5. prajāthe living entities born in the material world
  6. rakṣayāby saving them from being spoiled
  7. nṛpaO King
  8. bhagavānthe Personality of Godhead
3

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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “king”, “ruler's”, “citizens”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “protection”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “material”

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 could your care for others include support for their devotional life?

Practice

Offer someone one practical kindness that gives them time or encouragement for worship.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayProtect Others by Supporting 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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