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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 3 · Chapter 21: Conversation Between Manu and Kardama
3.21.173.21.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.21.18

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

न तेऽजराक्षभ्रमिरायुरेषां

त्रयोदशारं त्रिशतं षष्टिपर्व ।

षण्नेम्यनन्तच्छदि यत्‍त्रिणाभि

करालस्रोतो जगदाच्छिद्य धावत् ॥ १८ ॥

na te ’jarākṣa-bhramir āyur eṣāṁ

trayodaśāraṁ tri-śataṁ ṣaṣṭi-parva

ṣaṇ-nemy ananta-cchadi yat tri-ṇābhi

karāla-sroto jagad ācchidya dhāvat

Translation

Your wheel, which has three naves, rotates around the axis of the imperishable Brahman. It has thirteen spokes, 360 joints, six rims and numberless leaves carved upon it. Though its revolution cuts short the life span of the entire creation, this wheel of tremendous velocity cannot touch the life span of the devotees of the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Goes Beyond Time

  1. 1

    Time is compared to a swiftly turning wheel, with seasons, days and moments as its divisions. Its movement cuts short the life span of the creation.

  2. 2

    Even a little devotional service saves one from the greatest danger: passing from one body to another. Without the Lord’s mercy, the cycle of birth and death cannot stop.

  3. 3

    Time cannot take away the life of those engaged in devotional service. Understanding the transcendental nature of the Lord and His activities enables one to return to Him.

Key points from the purport
  • The time factor cannot affect the span of life of the devotees.
  • The time factor, however, cannot touch the lifespan of the devotees.
  • Time is compared here to a big wheel which has 360 joints, six rims in the shape of seasons, and numberless leaves in the shape of moments.

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. nanot
  2. teYour
  3. ajaraof imperishable Brahman
  4. akṣaon the axle
  5. bhramiḥrotating
  6. āyuḥspan of life
  7. eṣāmof the devotees
  8. trayodaśathirteen
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional service”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “danger”, “death”

  • 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

How much of my passing time am I giving to devotional service?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to study the Lord’s transcendental activities.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Goes Beyond TimeThis 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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