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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
3.21.333.21.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.21.34

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

निरीक्षतस्तस्य ययावशेष-

सिद्धेश्वराभिष्टुतसिद्धमार्ग: ।

आकर्णयन् पत्ररथेन्द्रपक्षै-

रुच्चारितं स्तोममुदीर्णसाम ॥ ३४ ॥

nirīkṣatas tasya yayāv aśeṣa-

siddheśvarābhiṣṭuta-siddha-mārgaḥ

ākarṇayan patra-rathendra-pakṣair

uccāritaṁ stomam udīrṇa-sāma

Translation

While the sage stood looking on, the Lord left by the pathway leading to Vaikuṇṭha, a path extolled by all great liberated souls. The sage stood listening as the hymns forming the basis of the Sāma Veda were vibrated by the flapping wings of the Lord’s carrier, Garuḍa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Is the Liberated Path

  1. 1

    Kardama Muni watches the Lord return toward Vaikuṇṭha on Garuḍa. The Lord descends from His abode in the spiritual sky.

  2. 2

    Garuḍa’s wings vibrate the hymns of the Sāma Veda in worship of the Lord. Kardama hears Hare Kṛṣṇa, the essence of the Sāma Veda, in their flapping.

  3. 3

    Liberated souls praise the path of devotional service. One engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is already liberated from the influence of the modes of material nature.

Key points from the purport
  • In the Vedic literature it is stated that the two wings of the transcendental bird Garuḍa, who carries the Lord everywhere, are two divisions of the Sāma Veda, known as bṛhat and rathāntara.
  • With his two wings Garuḍa began to vibrate the Sāma Veda, which is chanted by great sages to pacify the Lord.
  • There was no doubt that he was liberated, and thus he could see Garuḍa carrying the Lord on the way to Vaikuṇṭha and hear the flapping of his wings vibrating the sound of Hare Kṛṣṇa, the essence of the Sāma Veda.

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. nirīkṣataḥ tasyawhile he was looking on
  2. yayauHe left
  3. aśeṣaall
  4. siddha-īśvaraby liberated souls
  5. abhiṣṭutais praised
  6. siddha-mārgaḥthe way to the spiritual world
  7. ākarṇayanhearing
  8. patra-ratha-indraof Garuḍa (king of birds)
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “worship”

  • 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

How does this verse deepen my appreciation for hearing the Lord’s holy name?

Practice

Chant Hare Kṛṣṇa briefly today, listening with attention as an offering of worship.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Is the Liberated PathThis 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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