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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
3.21.103.21.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.21.11

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

विन्यस्तचरणाम्भोजमंसदेशे गरुत्मत: ।

दृष्ट्वा खेऽवस्थितं वक्ष:श्रियं कौस्तुभकन्धरम् ॥ ११ ॥

vinyasta-caraṇāmbhojam

aṁsa-deśe garutmataḥ

dṛṣṭvā khe ’vasthitaṁ vakṣaḥ-

śriyaṁ kaustubha-kandharam

Translation

A golden streak on His chest, the famous Kaustubha gem suspended from His neck, He stood in the air with His lotus feet placed on the shoulders of Garuḍa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Eternal Form Is Real

  1. 1

    The Lord’s eternal form and decorations are confirmed in authoritative Vedic literature. They are neither Kardama Muni’s imagination nor products of material energy.

  2. 2

    The perfection of yoga is not voidness or impersonalism. It is attained when one actually sees the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His eternal form.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa consciousness presents the form of Kṛṣṇa directly through authoritative descriptions. A devotee accepts these descriptions and practices devotional service as instructed in scripture.

Key points from the purport
  • The descriptions in verses 9-11 of the Lord in His transcendental, eternal form are understood to be descriptions from the authoritative Vedic version.
  • By performance of yoga Kardama Muni actually saw the Supreme Lord as He is.
  • The perfection of yoga, therefore, does not terminate in voidness or impersonalism; on the contrary, the perfection of yoga is attained when one actually sees the Personality of Godhead in His eternal form.

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. vinyastahaving been placed
  2. caraṇa-ambhojamlotus feet
  3. aṁsa-deśeon the shoulders
  4. garutmataḥof Garuḍa
  5. dṛṣṭvāhaving seen
  6. khein the air
  7. avasthitamstanding
  8. vakṣaḥon His chest
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: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.21

    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 authoritative descriptions guide my understanding of the Lord’s form?

Practice

Read the translation slowly and spend a minute remembering the Lord’s lotus feet and the Kaustubha gem.

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 3.21's connections

Live this todayThe Lord’s Eternal Form Is RealThis 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 3.21.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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