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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
3.21.113.21.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.21.12

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

जातहर्षोऽपतन्मूर्ध्ना क्षितौ लब्धमनोरथ: ।

गीर्भिस्त्वभ्यगृणात्प्रीतिस्वभावात्मा कृताञ्जलि: ॥ १२ ॥

jāta-harṣo ’patan mūrdhnā

kṣitau labdha-manorathaḥ

gīrbhis tv abhyagṛṇāt prīti-

svabhāvātmā kṛtāñjaliḥ

Translation

When Kardama Muni actually realized the Supreme Personality of Godhead in person, he was greatly satisfied because his transcendental desire was fulfilled. He fell on the ground with his head bowed to offer obeisances unto the lotus feet of the Lord. His heart naturally full of love of God, with folded hands he satisfied the Lord with prayers.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Realization Is Yoga’s Highest Perfection

  1. 1

    Seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead fulfilled Kardama Muni’s transcendental desire. With a heart full of love, he bowed down and offered prayers.

  2. 2

    The highest perfection of yoga is realization of the Lord’s personal form, not the loss of individual existence. Spiritual happiness arises in realizing the self and the Supreme Soul.

  3. 3

    Material powers and excessive sense enjoyment divert one from yoga’s ultimate goal. Devotional service begins with the relationship between Kṛṣṇa and His devotees, who accept only the material necessities of life.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Patañjali, when one becomes free from all material desires he attains his real, transcendental situation, and realization of that stage is called spiritual power.
  • The oneness of understanding that the Supreme Lord is fully spiritual and that in full spiritual realization one can understand what He is — the Supreme Personality of Godhead — is called kaivalya, or, in the language of Patañjali, realization of spiritual power.
  • According to Patañjali, when one is fixed in constant realization of the supreme form of the Lord, one has attained the perfectional stage, as attained by Kardama Muni.

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. jāta-harṣaḥnaturally jubilant
  2. apatathe fell down
  3. mūrdhnāwith his head
  4. kṣitauon the ground
  5. labdhahaving been achieved
  6. manaḥ-rathaḥhis desire
  7. gīrbhiḥwith prayers
  8. tuand
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”, “devotees”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “love”

  • 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

Am I seeking spiritual happiness through service, or looking mainly for material benefits?

Practice

Fold your hands and offer a short prayer asking to progress in loving service to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLoving Realization Is Yoga’s Highest PerfectionThis 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.

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