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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
3.13.73.13.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.13.8

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.13.6inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तद्विधेहि नमस्तुभ्यं कर्मस्वीड्यात्मशक्तिषु ।

यत्कृत्वेह यशो विष्वगमुत्र च भवेद्‍गति: ॥ ८ ॥

tad vidhehi namas tubhyaṁ

karmasv īḍyātma-śaktiṣu

yat kṛtveha yaśo viṣvag

amutra ca bhaved gatiḥ

Translation

O worshipful one, please give us your direction for the execution of duty within our working capacity so that we can follow it for fame in this life and progress in the next.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow Guidance Toward Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

  1. 1

    The request is for duties suited to one’s working capacity, bringing fame in this life and progress in the next.

  2. 2

    Brahmā received Vedic knowledge directly from the Personality of Godhead. Faithfully carrying out entrusted duties in his disciplic succession brings fame in this life and salvation in the next.

  3. 3

    The spiritual succession from Brahmā and the material family succession from Manu both move toward the same goal: Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • Brahmā is the direct recipient of Vedic knowledge from the Personality of Godhead, and anyone discharging his entrusted duties in disciplic succession from Brahmā is sure to gain fame in this life and salvation in the next.
  • This line of disciplic succession from Brahmā is spiritual, whereas the genealogical succession from Manu is material, but both are on the progressive march towards the same goal of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatthat
  2. vidhehigive direction
  3. namaḥmy obeisances
  4. tubhyamunto you
  5. karmasuin duties
  6. īḍyaO worshipful one
  7. ātma-śaktiṣuwithin our working capacity
  8. yatwhich
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duty”, “duties”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshipful”

  • 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 can I carry out my entrusted duties with Kṛṣṇa consciousness as the goal?

Practice

Choose one entrusted duty within your capacity and give it careful attention today, remembering the goal of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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 3.13's connections

Live this todayFollow Guidance Toward Kṛṣṇa ConsciousnessThis 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 3.13.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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