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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
3.21.53.21.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.21.6

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.21.6inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

प्रजा: सृजेति भगवान् कर्दमो ब्रह्मणोदित: ।

सरस्वत्यां तपस्तेपे सहस्राणां समा दश ॥ ६ ॥

maitreya uvāca

prajāḥ sṛjeti bhagavān

kardamo brahmaṇoditaḥ

sarasvatyāṁ tapas tepe

sahasrāṇāṁ samā daśa

Translation

The great sage Maitreya replied: Commanded by Lord Brahmā to beget children in the worlds, the worshipful Kardama Muni practiced penance on the bank of the river Sarasvatī for a period of ten thousand years.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Chant the Lord’s Name in This Age

  1. 1

    Commanded by Brahmā to beget children, Kardama Muni practiced penance beside the Sarasvatī for ten thousand years before attaining perfection.

  2. 2

    Rules, sense control and sitting postures are preliminary yoga practices. The purport rejects promises that brief daily meditation can make someone one with God.

  3. 3

    For the Age of Kali, the Vedic literature repeatedly declares that there is no alternative to chanting the holy name of the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • It is understood herein that Kardama Muni meditated in yoga for ten thousand years before attaining perfection.
  • Therefore, yoga practice can be successfully performed by persons who have a very long duration of life, such as one hundred thousand years; in that way it is possible to have perfection in yoga.
  • Actually there is no possibility of attaining yoga perfection by such paltry proposals.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. maitreyaḥ uvācathe great sage Maitreya said
  2. prajāḥchildren
  3. sṛjabeget
  4. itithus
  5. bhagavānthe worshipful
  6. kardamaḥKardama Muni
  7. brahmaṇāby Lord Brahmā
  8. uditaḥcommanded
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: “worshipful”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “children”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.21

    In this verse: “chanting”, “holy name”

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 seeking quick promises of perfection or taking up chanting sincerely?

Practice

Set aside a few quiet minutes today to chant the holy name of the Lord attentively.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChant the Lord’s Name in This AgeThis 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 3.21.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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