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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
3.21.313.21.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.21.32

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

सहाहं स्वांशकलया त्वद्वीर्येण महामुने ।

तव क्षेत्रे देवहूत्यां प्रणेष्ये तत्त्वसंहिताम् ॥ ३२ ॥

sahāhaṁ svāṁśa-kalayā

tvad-vīryeṇa mahā-mune

tava kṣetre devahūtyāṁ

praṇeṣye tattva-saṁhitām

Translation

O great sage, I shall manifest My own plenary portion through your wife, Devahūti, along with your nine daughters, and I shall instruct her in the system of philosophy that deals with the ultimate principles or categories.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Forms and Names Have Full Potency

  1. 1

    The Lord promises to appear as Kapiladeva, the son of Devahūti and Kardama Muni, and teach Sāṅkhya philosophy. His Sāṅkhya is godly, unlike the godless system taught by another Kapiladeva.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s direct and further expansions have the same divine potency. Like candles lit from one another, none is inferior in its power to give light.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa’s name, form, pastimes and qualities have the same potency because the Lord is absolute. Chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and worshiping His form are not dealings with something separate from Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Herein the word svāṁśa-kalayā indicates that the Lord would appear as the son of Devahūti and Kardama Muni as Kapiladeva, the first propounder of the Sāṅkhya philosophy, which is mentioned here as tattva-saṁhitā.
  • Sāṅkhya philosophy is very well known in the world as propagated by another Kapiladeva, but that Sāṅkhya philosophy is different from the Sāṅkhya which was propounded by the Lord Himself.
  • There is no difference in potency between His qualities, name, form, etc. If we chant the name of the Lord, Hare Kṛṣṇa, that has as much potency as the Lord Himself.

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. sahawith
  2. ahamI
  3. sva-aṁśa-kalayāMy own plenary portion
  4. tvat-vīryeṇaby your semen
  5. mahā-muneO great sage
  6. tava kṣetrein your wife
  7. devahūtyāmin Devahūti
  8. praṇeṣyeI shall instruct
  9. tattvaof the ultimate principles
  10. saṁhitāmthe doctrine
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “principles”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “philosophy”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiping”

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 might remembering the Lord’s full presence in His name change the way I chant?

Practice

Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa attentively for one minute, remembering that His name has the potency of the Lord Himself.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.21's connections

Live this todayThe Lord’s Forms and Names Have Full PotencyThis 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 3.21.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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