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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.21.23

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रीभगवानुवाच

विदित्वा तव चैत्यं मे पुरैव समयोजि तत् ।

यदर्थमात्मनियमैस्त्वयैवाहं समर्चित: ॥ २३ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

viditvā tava caityaṁ me

puraiva samayoji tat

yad-artham ātma-niyamais

tvayaivāhaṁ samarcitaḥ

Translation

The Supreme Lord said: Having come to know what was in your mind, I have already arranged for that for which you have worshiped Me well through your mental and sensory discipline.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Knows Your Heart

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is present in everyone’s heart as Paramātmā. He knows each person’s past, present, future, desires and activities.

  2. 2

    The Lord already knew Kardama Muni’s heart’s desire. He had arranged its fulfillment before announcing it to him.

  3. 3

    The Lord never disappoints a sincere devotee. Yet He never allows anything detrimental to that person’s devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Personality of Godhead in His Paramātmā feature is situated in everyone’s heart.
  • He therefore knows the past, present and future of every individual person as well as his desires, activities and everything about him.
  • The Personality of Godhead knew the heart’s desire of Kardama Muni, and He had already arranged for the fulfillment of his desires.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Lord said
  2. viditvāunderstanding
  3. tavayour
  4. caityammental condition
  5. meby Me
  6. purāpreviously
  7. evacertainly
  8. samayojiwas arranged
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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: “worshiped”, “devotional service”, “devotee”

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

Can I trust the Lord to protect my devotional service while knowing all my desires?

Practice

Tell the Lord one desire in prayer, and ask that it not hinder your devotional service.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Knows Your HeartThis 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 3.21.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.