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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
3.21.323.21.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.21.33

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

मैत्रेय उवाच

एवं तमनुभाष्याथ भगवान् प्रत्यगक्षज: ।

जगाम बिन्दुसरस: सरस्वत्या परिश्रितात् ॥ ३३ ॥

maitreya uvāca

evaṁ tam anubhāṣyātha

bhagavān pratyag-akṣajaḥ

jagāma bindusarasaḥ

sarasvatyā pariśritāt

Translation

Maitreya went on: Thus having spoken to Kardama Muni, the Lord, who reveals Himself only when the senses are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, departed from that lake called Bindu-sarovara, which was encircled by the river Sarasvatī.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Purifies Our Senses

  1. 1

    After speaking to Kardama Muni, the Lord departs from Bindu-sarovara. He reveals Himself only when the senses are in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Lord cannot be understood through material senses or speculation. His transcendental name, form and pastimes are beyond unpurified perception.

  3. 3

    Training in devotional service gradually purifies the senses of material contamination. With purified senses, one can hear, see and understand Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • He is imperceptible to material senses, but still He can be seen.
  • We have material senses, but how can we see the Supreme Lord?
  • The purification of the material senses and perception of the transcendental form, name and quality of Kṛṣṇa are combined together in one word, pratyag-akṣaja, which is used here.

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. maitreyaḥ uvācathe great sage Maitreya said
  2. evamthus
  3. tamto him
  4. anubhāṣyahaving spoken
  5. athathen
  6. bhagavānthe Lord
  7. pratyakdirectly
  8. akṣaby senses
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “purifies”, “contamination”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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

Am I seeking to understand Kṛṣṇa through service, rather than speculation alone?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute chanting Kṛṣṇa’s name and listening carefully, as an act of devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Purifies Our SensesThis 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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