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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
3.21.513.21.55

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 3.21.52-54

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

न यदा रथमास्थाय जैत्रं मणिगणार्पितम् ।

विस्फूर्जच्चण्डकोदण्डो रथेन त्रासयन्नघान् ॥ ५२ ॥

स्वसैन्यचरणक्षुण्णं वेपयन्मण्डलं भुव: ।

विकर्षन् बृहतीं सेनां पर्यटस्यंशुमानिव ॥ ५३ ॥

तदैव सेतव: सर्वे वर्णाश्रमनिबन्धना: ।

भगवद्रचिता राजन् भिद्येरन् बत दस्युभि: ॥ ५४ ॥

na yadā ratham āsthāya

jaitraṁ maṇi-gaṇārpitam

visphūrjac-caṇḍa-kodaṇḍo

rathena trāsayann aghān

sva-sainya-caraṇa-kṣuṇṇaṁ

vepayan maṇḍalaṁ bhuvaḥ

vikarṣan bṛhatīṁ senāṁ

paryaṭasy aṁśumān iva

tadaiva setavaḥ sarve

varṇāśrama-nibandhanāḥ

bhagavad-racitā rājan

bhidyeran bata dasyubhiḥ

Translation

If you did not mount your victorious jeweled chariot, whose mere presence threatens culprits, if you did not produce fierce sounds by the twanging of your bow, and if you did not roam about the world like the brilliant sun, leading a huge army whose trampling feet cause the globe of the earth to tremble, then all the moral laws governing the varṇas and āśramas created by the Lord Himself would be broken by the rogues and rascals.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Real Advancement Is Spiritual Realization

  1. 1

    A responsible king protects the social and spiritual orders created by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He must ensure that facilities for spiritual realization are available.

  2. 2

    The four varṇas are based on work and qualification, not merely hereditary claims. Their cooperation according to Vedic principles brings peace and spiritual advancement.

  3. 3

    Real advancement means progress toward spiritual realization. Creating unnecessary material needs wastes human energy in pursuit of so-called comforts.

Key points from the purport
  • It is the duty of a responsible king to protect the social and spiritual orders in human society.
  • The Lord says that the institution of four varṇas and four āśramas “is created by Me.”
  • The divisions of varṇas and āśramas will continue to exist, either in their original form or in degraded form, but because they are created by the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they cannot be extinguished.

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. nanot
  2. yadāwhen
  3. rathamthe chariot
  4. āsthāyahaving mounted
  5. jaitramvictorious
  6. maṇiof jewels
  7. gaṇawith clusters
  8. arpitambedecked
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: “varṇas”, “āśramas”, “principles”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “governing”, “king”

  • 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

Am I measuring progress by greater comfort or by greater spiritual realization?

Practice

Set aside one unnecessary pursuit of material comfort today and use that time to study these teachings.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReal Advancement Is Spiritual RealizationThis 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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