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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
3.21.153.21.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.21.16

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The great sage Kardamasince 3.21.13inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

प्रजापतेस्ते वचसाधीश तन्त्या

लोक: किलायं कामहतोऽनुबद्ध: ।

अहं च लोकानुगतो वहामि

बलिं च शुक्लानिमिषाय तुभ्यम् ॥ १६ ॥

prajāpates te vacasādhīśa tantyā

lokaḥ kilāyaṁ kāma-hato ’nubaddhaḥ

ahaṁ ca lokānugato vahāmi

baliṁ ca śuklānimiṣāya tubhyam

Translation

O my Lord, You are the master and leader of all living entities. Under Your direction, all conditioned souls, as if bound by rope, are constantly engaged in satisfying their desires. Following them, O embodiment of religion, I also bear oblations for You, who are eternal time.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Live Under the Supreme Lord’s Direction

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord sustains and leads all living entities; no one is independent of His mercy. Since everything belongs to Him, one should accept one’s allotment without taking another’s property.

  2. 2

    One should live according to one’s present position, but under the direction of the Lord and the Vedas. Following these directions gradually elevates one toward freedom from material bondage.

  3. 3

    Religion consists of the Lord’s laws, not rules invented independently. Following His instructions and surrendering unto Him is the ultimate goal of perfection in human life.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore the Vedic instruction is that one should enjoy life under the direction of the supreme leader, the Personality of Godhead.
  • The best program for every living entity is to take direction from the Supreme Lord and enjoy material or spiritual life.
  • Therefore one should follow the Vedic regulations and surrender unto the Supreme Lord because that is the ultimate goal of perfection in human life.

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. prajāpateḥwho are the master of all living entities
  2. teof You
  3. vacasāunder the direction
  4. adhīśaO my Lord
  5. tantyāby a rope
  6. lokaḥconditioned souls
  7. kilaindeed
  8. ayamthese
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “religion”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “mercy”

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

Where can I more willingly accept the Lord’s direction instead of acting as though I were independent?

Practice

Before using something today, pause to acknowledge that it belongs to the Lord and check that it is rightfully yours to use.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLive Under the Supreme Lord’s DirectionThis 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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