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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
3.21.263.21.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.21.27

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

आत्मजामसितापाङ्गीं वय:शीलगुणान्विताम् ।

मृगयन्तीं पतिं दास्यत्यनुरूपाय ते प्रभो ॥ २७ ॥

ātmajām asitāpāṅgīṁ

vayaḥ-śīla-guṇānvitām

mṛgayantīṁ patiṁ dāsyaty

anurūpāya te prabho

Translation

He has a grown-up daughter whose eyes are black. She is ready for marriage, and she has good character and all good qualities. She is also searching for a good husband. My dear sir, her parents will come to see you, who are exactly suitable for her, just to deliver their daughter as your wife.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Choosing Marriage Through Character and Suitability

  1. 1

    The daughter is ready for marriage and has good character and good qualities. She is seeking a good husband who is suitable for her.

  2. 2

    Manu and his wife are coming to offer their daughter to Kardama Muni because they consider him similarly qualified.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Prabhupāda describes parental selection as the Vedic system. He emphasizes the parents’ duty to consider suitability rather than allowing sexual attraction alone to determine the choice.

Key points from the purport
  • The selection of a good husband for a good girl was always entrusted to the parents.
  • Girls are never thrown into the public street to search out their husband, for when girls are grown up and are searching after a boy, they forget to consider whether the boy they select is actually suitable for them.
  • According to the Vedic system, therefore, the girl is given over to a suitable boy by the parents; she is never allowed to select her own husband independently.

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. ātma-jāmhis own daughter
  2. asitablack
  3. apāṅgīmeyes
  4. vayaḥgrown-up age
  5. śīlawith character
  6. guṇawith good qualities
  7. anvitāmendowed
  8. mṛgayantīmsearching for
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duty”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “parental”

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

Why is it important to consider character and suitability rather than attraction alone?

Practice

Write down three qualities of good character that matter when considering a marriage.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChoosing Marriage Through Character and SuitabilityThis 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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