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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 14: Pregnancy of Diti in the Evening
3.14.173.14.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.14.18

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.14.5inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

सर्वाश्रमानुपादाय स्वाश्रमेण कलत्रवान् ।

व्यसनार्णवमत्येति जलयानैर्यथार्णवम् ॥ १८ ॥

sarvāśramān upādāya

svāśrameṇa kalatravān

vyasanārṇavam atyeti

jala-yānair yathārṇavam

Translation

As one can cross over the ocean with seagoing vessels, one can cross the dangerous situation of the material ocean by living with a wife.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Householders Support Everyone's Spiritual Progress

  1. 1

    Household life is compared to a vessel for crossing the dangerous ocean of material existence. The four orders cooperate toward liberation.

  2. 2

    Householders maintain brahmacārīs, vānaprasthas and sannyāsīs, who have little time to earn a livelihood while cultivating spiritual understanding.

  3. 3

    By helping others cultivate spiritual values, householders also advance. Such cooperation helps society cross the ocean of ignorance.

Key points from the purport
  • The orders of brahmacarya, or pious student life, household life with a wife, retired life and renounced life all depend for successful advancement on the householder who lives with a wife.
  • This cooperation is essential for the proper functioning of the institution of the four social orders and the four spiritual orders of life.
  • Except for the gṛhasthas, or the householders, everyone is supposed to engage in the spiritual advancement of life, and therefore the brahmacārī, the vānaprastha and the sannyāsī have very little time to earn a livelihood.

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 14: Pregnancy of Diti in the Evening

Diti desires sons, her husband performs a forbidden act, and their sons’ destruction by the Lord is foretold.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.14
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sarvaall
  2. āśramānsocial orders
  3. upādāyacompleting
  4. svaown
  5. āśrameṇaby the social orders
  6. kalatra-vāna person living with a wife
  7. vyasana-arṇavamthe dangerous ocean of material existence
  8. atyetione can cross over
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.14

    In this verse: “material”, “household”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.14

    In this verse: “dangerous”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.14

    In this verse: “understanding”

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 my resources support someone else's spiritual cultivation?

Practice

Offer a small amount of food or practical support to someone dedicated to spiritual study and practice.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHouseholders Support Everyone's Spiritual ProgressThis 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 3.14.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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