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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 21: Conversation Between Manu and Kardama
3.21.93.21.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.21.10

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.21.6inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

किरीटिनं कुण्डलिनं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम् ।

श्वेतोत्पलक्रीडनकं मन:स्पर्शस्मितेक्षणम् ॥ १० ॥

kirīṭinaṁ kuṇḍalinaṁ

śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dharam

śvetotpala-krīḍanakaṁ

manaḥ-sparśa-smitekṣaṇam

Translation

Adorned with a crown and earrings, He held His characteristic conch, disc and mace in three of His hands and a white lily in the fourth. He glanced about in a happy, smiling mood whose sight captivates the hearts of all devotees.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Smile Captivates His Devotees

  1. 1

    The Lord was adorned with a crown and earrings.

  2. 2

    He held a conch, disc and mace in three hands, and a white lily in the fourth.

  3. 3

    His happy, smiling glance captivates the hearts of all devotees.

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. kirīṭinamadorned with a crown
  2. kuṇḍalinamwearing earrings
  3. śaṅkhaconch
  4. cakradisc
  5. gadāmace
  6. dharamholding
  7. śvetawhite
  8. utpalalily
3

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 3.21

    In this verse: “devotees”

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 do I respond to this description of the Lord’s happy, smiling glance?

Practice

Pause today to remember the Lord’s smiling glance as described in this verse.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Smile Captivates His DevoteesThis 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 3.21.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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