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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
3.21.413.21.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 3.21.42-43

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

कदम्बचम्पकाशोककरञ्जबकुलासनै: ।

कुन्दमन्दारकुटजैश्चूतपोतैरलङ्कृतम् ॥ ४२ ॥

कारण्डवै: प्लवैर्हंसै: कुररैर्जलकुक्‍कुटै: ।

सारसैश्चक्रवाकैश्च चकोरैर्वल्गु कूजितम् ॥ ४३ ॥

kadamba-campakāśoka-

karañja-bakulāsanaiḥ

kunda-mandāra-kuṭajaiś

cūta-potair alaṅkṛtam

kāraṇḍavaiḥ plavair haṁsaiḥ

kurarair jala-kukkuṭaiḥ

sārasaiś cakravākaiś ca

cakorair valgu kūjitam

Translation

Lake Bindu-sarovara was adorned by flowering trees such as kadamba, campaka, aśoka, karañja, bakula, āsana, kunda, mandāra, kuṭaja and young mango trees. The air was filled with the pleasing notes of kāraṇḍava ducks, plavas, swans, ospreys, waterfowl, cranes, cakravākas and cakoras.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Nature Creates a Suitable Spiritual Atmosphere

  1. 1

    Flowering trees and young mango trees adorned Lake Bindu-sarovara. The purport notes that most of the named trees and birds have no English synonyms.

  2. 2

    Trees such as campaka, kadamba and bakula are described as very pious because they produce beautiful, aromatic flowers.

  3. 3

    The sweet sounds of waterfowl and cranes made the surroundings pleasant and created a very suitable spiritual atmosphere.

Key points from the purport
  • For most of the trees, flowers, fruits and birds mentioned here as surrounding Bindu-sarovara Lake, English synonyms cannot be found.
  • All the trees mentioned are very pious in that they produce a nice aromatic flower, such as the campaka, kadamba and bakula.
  • The sweet sounds of waterfowl and cranes made the surrounding area as pleasant as possible and created a very suitable spiritual atmosphere.

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. kadambakadamba flowers
  2. campakacampaka flowers
  3. aśokaaśoka flowers
  4. karañjakarañja flowers
  5. bakulabakula flowers
  6. āsanaiḥby āsana trees
  7. kundakunda
  8. mandāramandāra
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “sweet”

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 do pleasant sounds and natural beauty affect my readiness for spiritual reflection?

Practice

Choose a pleasant, quiet place today and spend a minute reflecting on this description.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNature Creates a Suitable Spiritual AtmosphereThis 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 3.21.42-43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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