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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
3.13.373.13.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.13.38

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.13.16inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

सोमस्तु रेत: सवनान्यवस्थिति:

संस्थाविभेदास्तव देव धातव: ।

सत्राणि सर्वाणि शरीरसन्धि-

स्त्वं सर्वयज्ञक्रतुरिष्टिबन्धन: ॥ ३८ ॥

somas tu retaḥ savanāny avasthitiḥ

saṁsthā-vibhedās tava deva dhātavaḥ

satrāṇi sarvāṇi śarīra-sandhis

tvaṁ sarva-yajña-kratur iṣṭi-bandhanaḥ

Translation

O Lord, Your semen is the sacrifice called soma-yajña. Your growth is the ritualistic performances of the morning. Your skin and touch sensations are the seven elements of the agniṣṭoma sacrifice. Your bodily joints are symbols of various other sacrifices performed in twelve days. Therefore You are the object of all sacrifices called soma and asoma, and You are bound by yajñas only.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Fulfills All Sacrifices

  1. 1

    The verse describes the Lord’s bodily features in relation to various sacrifices. He is the object of all sacrifices called soma and asoma.

  2. 2

    The purport lists seven kinds of routine Vedic yajñas. Those who regularly perform them are understood to be situated with the Lord.

  3. 3

    Anyone in contact with the Supreme Lord through devotional service is understood to have performed all varieties of yajñas. Devotional service thus fulfills the purpose of these sacrifices.

Key points from the purport
  • There are seven kinds of routine yajñas performed by all followers of the Vedic rituals, and they are called agniṣṭoma, atyagniṣṭoma, uktha, ṣoḍaśī, vājapeya, atirātra and āptoryāma.
  • Anyone performing such yajñas regularly is supposed to be situated with the Lord.
  • But anyone who is in contact with the Supreme Lord by discharging devotional service is understood to have performed all different varieties of yajñas.

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. somaḥ tu retaḥYour semen is the sacrifice called soma
  2. savanāniritualistic performances of the morning
  3. avasthitiḥdifferent statuses of bodily growth
  4. saṁsthā-vibhedāḥseven varieties of sacrifices
  5. tavaYour
  6. devaO Lord
  7. dhātavaḥingredients of the body such as skin and flesh
  8. satrāṇisacrifices performed over twelve days
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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 this teaching help you value even a small act of devotional service?

Practice

Offer a short prayer today with the intention of serving and pleasing the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Fulfills All SacrificesThis 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 3.13.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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