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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
3.21.42-433.21.45-47

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.21.44

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

तथैव हरिणै: क्रोडै: श्‍वाविद्गवयकुञ्जरै: ।

गोपुच्छैर्हरिभिर्मर्कैर्नकुलैर्नाभिभिर्वृतम् ॥ ४४ ॥

tathaiva hariṇaiḥ kroḍaiḥ

śvāvid-gavaya-kuñjaraiḥ

gopucchair haribhir markair

nakulair nābhibhir vṛtam

Translation

Its shores abounded with deer, boars, porcupines, gavayas, elephants, baboons, lions, monkeys, mongooses and musk deer.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sacred Animals and Their Worshipful Use

  1. 1

    The shores abounded with many animals, including deer, elephants, lions, monkeys and musk deer.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that musk deer live only in certain places, such as Bindu-sarovara. They are intoxicated by the aroma of musk secreted from their navels.

  3. 3

    Gavayas, also called camarīs, are considered very sacred. The bunches of hair at the ends of their tails are used to fan the Deities in temple worship.

Key points from the purport
  • Musk deer are not found in every forest, but only in places like Bindu-sarovara.
  • Gavayas, the species of cow mentioned herein, bear a bunch of hair at the end of their tails.
  • In India there are still gypsies or forest mercantile people who flourish by trading kastūrī, or musk, and the bunches of hair from the camarīs.

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. tathā evalikewise
  2. hariṇaiḥby deer
  3. kroḍaiḥby boars
  4. śvāvitporcupines
  5. gavayaa wild animal closely resembling the cow
  6. kuñjaraiḥby elephants
  7. gopucchaiḥby baboons
  8. haribhiḥby lions
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: “worship”

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

What does the use of camarī hair help me notice about the details of temple worship?

Practice

Reread the description of gavayas and note how their tail hair is used in service to the Deities.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySacred Animals and Their Worshipful UseThis 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 3.21.44? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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