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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
3.21.233.21.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.21.24

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Lordsince 3.21.24inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

न वै जातु मृषैव स्यात्प्रजाध्यक्ष मदर्हणम् ।

भवद्विधेष्वतितरां मयि संगृभितात्मनाम् ॥ २४ ॥

na vai jātu mṛṣaiva syāt

prajādhyakṣa mad-arhaṇam

bhavad-vidheṣv atitarāṁ

mayi saṅgṛbhitātmanām

Translation

The Lord continued: My dear ṛṣi, O leader of the living entities, for those who serve Me in devotion by worshiping Me, especially persons like you who have given up everything unto Me, there is never any question of frustration.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Worship Is Never Fruitless

  1. 1

    The Lord assures those who worship Him that their service is never useless. This is especially true of those who have given everything unto Him.

  2. 2

    Devotees who approach the Lord with material desires are called sakāma. Those who serve out of spontaneous love, without desires for sense gratification, are called akāma.

  3. 3

    People approach the Lord in distress, in need of money, out of inquisitiveness or in pursuit of knowledge. None of these four classes is frustrated in worship; each receives its desired result.

Key points from the purport
  • Even if he has some desires, one engaged in the service of the Lord is never frustrated.
  • Those engaged in His service are called sakāma and akāma.
  • Those who approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead with desires for material enjoyment are called sakāma, and those devotees who have no material desires for sense gratification but serve the Supreme Lord out of spontaneous love for Him are called akāma.

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. nanot
  2. vaiindeed
  3. jātuever
  4. mṛṣāuseless
  5. evaonly
  6. syātit may be
  7. prajāof the living entities
  8. adhyakṣaO leader
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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: “devotion”, “worshiping”, “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “distress”

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

What brings me to worship the Lord, and how can I move toward serving Him out of love?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer of worship today, honestly acknowledging your motive and expressing a wish to serve with love.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Worship Is Never FruitlessThis 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 3.21.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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