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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
3.21.503.21.52-54

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.21.51

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

योऽर्केन्द्वग्नीन्द्रवायूनां यमधर्मप्रचेतसाम् ।

रूपाणि स्थान आधत्से तस्मै शुक्लाय ते नम: ॥ ५१ ॥

yo ’rkendv-agnīndra-vāyūnāṁ

yama-dharma-pracetasām

rūpāṇi sthāna ādhatse

tasmai śuklāya te namaḥ

Translation

When necessary, You assume the part of the sun-god; the moon-god; Agni, the god of fire; Indra, the lord of paradise; Vāyu, the wind-god; Yama, the god of punishment; Dharma, the god of piety; and Varuṇa, the god presiding over the waters. All obeisances to you, who are none other than Lord Viṣṇu!

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Honor the Supreme Lord’s Representative

  1. 1

    Kardama was a brāhmaṇa, while Svāyambhuva Manu was a kṣatriya. By social position alone, the sage was not expected to offer obeisances to the King.

  2. 2

    Kardama nevertheless offered obeisances because Manu represented the Supreme Lord. His respect recognized the King’s service as the Lord’s representative.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Lord is always worshipable, whatever one’s social position. As His representative, the King deserved respectful obeisances from everyone.

Key points from the purport
  • Since the sage Kardama was a brāhmaṇa and Svāyambhuva was a kṣatriya, the sage was not supposed to offer obeisances to the King because socially his position was greater than the King’s.
  • The Supreme Lord is always worshipable, regardless of whether one is a brāhmaṇa, a kṣatriya or a śūdra.
  • As the representative of the Supreme Lord, the King deserved respectful obeisances from everyone.

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. yaḥyou who
  2. arkaof the sun
  3. induof the moon
  4. agniof Agni, the fire-god
  5. indraof Indra, the lord of heaven
  6. vāyūnāmof Vāyu, the wind-god
  7. yamaof Yama, the god of punishment
  8. dharmaof Dharma, the god of piety
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “dharma”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshipable”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “king”

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

Do I let concern for my own position prevent me from showing deserved respect?

Practice

Offer respectful obeisances to the Supreme Lord today, remembering that He is worshipable by everyone.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor the Supreme Lord’s RepresentativeThis 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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