1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233

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
3.21.493.21.51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.21.50

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
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

नूनं चङ्‌क्रमणं देव सतां संरक्षणाय ते ।

वधाय चासतां यस्त्वं हरे: शक्तिर्हि पालिनी ॥ ५० ॥

nūnaṁ caṅkramaṇaṁ deva

satāṁ saṁrakṣaṇāya te

vadhāya cāsatāṁ yas tvaṁ

hareḥ śaktir hi pālinī

Translation

The tour you have undertaken, O lord, is surely intended to protect the virtuous and kill the demons, since you embody the protecting energy of Śrī Hari.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Authority Should Protect the Virtuous

  1. 1

    Pious kings toured their kingdoms to protect pious citizens and chastise the impious. Protection was an active duty, not merely a position of honor.

  2. 2

    The king’s protecting power is an energy of the Supreme Lord. The Lord Himself descends to protect the pious and destroy the demons.

  3. 3

    The purport permits violence for a good purpose as part of a kṣatriya’s duty. It condemns rulers who kill innocent persons without reason.

Key points from the purport
  • It appears from many Vedic literatures, especially histories like Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and the other Purāṇas, that the pious kings of old used to tour their kingdoms in order to give protection to the pious citizens and to chastise or kill the impious.
  • Therefore the potency to give protection to the pious and kill the demons or undesirables is directly an energy from the Supreme Lord, and the king or the chief executive of the state is supposed to possess such energy.
  • Modern heads of state sit very nicely in their palaces and try without reason to kill innocent persons.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 3.21.50 quotesBG 4.8

In Bhagavad-gītā (4.8) the Lord says, paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. nūnamsurely
  2. caṅkramaṇamthe tour
  3. devaO lord
  4. satāmof the virtuous
  5. saṁrakṣaṇāyafor the protection
  6. teyour
  7. vadhāyafor killing
  8. caand
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “kings”, “rulers”, “citizens”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “protect”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duty”

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 can I use the responsibility I have to protect others rather than cause harm?

Practice

Take one small action today to support someone whose well-being is your responsibility.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAuthority Should Protect the VirtuousThis 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 3.21.50? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories