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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 21: Conversation Between Manu and Kardama
3.20.533.21.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.21.1

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vidurasince 3.21.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

विदुर उवाच

स्वायम्भुवस्य च मनोर्वंश: परमसम्मत: ।

कथ्यतां भगवन् यत्र मैथुनेनैधिरे प्रजा: ॥ १ ॥

vidura uvāca

svāyambhuvasya ca manor

vaṁśaḥ parama-sammataḥ

kathyatāṁ bhagavan yatra

maithunenaidhire prajāḥ

Translation

Vidura said: The line of Svāyambhuva Manu was most esteemed. O worshipful sage, I beg you: Give me an account of this race, whose progeny multiplied through sexual intercourse.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear Histories That Bring Spiritual Enlightenment

  1. 1

    Vidura wished to hear about Svāyambhuva Manu’s dynasty because good devotee kings appeared in it, not merely because its population increased.

  2. 2

    These kings carefully protected their subjects with spiritual knowledge. Hearing about their activities brings enlightenment.

  3. 3

    Regulated sex life for creating exemplary children is accepted by sages and authorities of Vedic scripture.

Key points from the purport
  • Regulated sex life to generate good population is worth accepting.
  • Actually, Vidura was not interested in hearing the history of persons who merely engaged in sex life, but he was interested in the progeny of Svāyambhuva Manu because in that dynasty good devotee kings appeared who protected their subjects very carefully with spiritual knowledge.
  • An important word used in this connection is parama-sammataḥ, which indicates that the progeny created by Svāyambhuva Manu and his sons was approved of by great authorities.

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

Longing and service → Preparedness. Family devotion turns toward higher spiritual fulfillment.

Chapters 20–24 of Canto 3: Kardama, Devahūti, family and renunciation. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 21: Conversation Between Manu and Kardama

Kardama performs penance, receives the Lord’s blessings, and welcomes Manu, who travels with his wife and daughter.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. viduraḥ uvācaVidura said
  2. svāyambhuvasyaof Svāyambhuva
  3. caand
  4. manoḥof Manu
  5. vaṁśaḥthe dynasty
  6. paramamost
  7. sammataḥesteemed
  8. kathyatāmkindly describe
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “worshipful”, “devotee”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “children”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “hearing”

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

Do the histories I choose to hear help me grow in spiritual understanding?

Practice

Reread the description of how these devotee kings protected their subjects, and note why their lives are worth hearing about.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear Histories That Bring Spiritual EnlightenmentThis 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 3.21.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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