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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 22: The Marriage of Kardama Muni and Devahūti
3.22.133.22.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.22.14

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Svāyambhuva Manusince 3.22.14inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

अहं त्वाश‍ृणवं विद्वन् विवाहार्थं समुद्यतम् ।

अतस्त्वमुपकुर्वाण: प्रत्तां प्रतिगृहाण मे ॥ १४ ॥

ahaṁ tvāśṛṇavaṁ vidvan

vivāhārthaṁ samudyatam

atas tvam upakurvāṇaḥ

prattāṁ pratigṛhāṇa me

Translation

Svāyambhuva Manu continued: O wise man, I heard that you were prepared to marry. Please accept her hand, which is being offered to you by me, since you have not taken a vow of perpetual celibacy.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Understand and Honor Spiritual Commitments

  1. 1

    Brahmacarya is student life at the beginning of the spiritual orders, and its principle is celibacy.

  2. 2

    A naiṣṭhika-brahmacārī vows lifelong celibacy. An upakurvāṇa-brahmacārī follows celibacy for a limited period and may then marry with the spiritual master's permission.

  3. 3

    Kardama Muni had not vowed perpetual celibacy and was willing to marry. Svāyambhuva Manu therefore asked him to accept his daughter.

Key points from the purport
  • One is called naiṣṭhika-brahmacārī, which means one who takes a vow of celibacy for his whole life, whereas the other, the upakurvāṇa-brahmacārī, is a brahmacārī who takes the vow of celibacy up to a certain age.
  • Brahmacarya is student life, the beginning of life in the spiritual orders, and the principle of brahmacarya is celibacy.
  • Svāyambhuva Manu requested Kardama Muni to accept his daughter, since Kardama had not taken the vow of naiṣṭhika-brahmacarya.

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 22: The Marriage of Kardama Muni and Devahūti

Kardama marries Devahūti with plans for later renunciation, and Manu returns home absorbed in Vāsudeva.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.22
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ahamI
  2. tvāyou
  3. aśṛṇavamheard
  4. vidvanO wise man
  5. vivāha-arthamfor the sake of marriage
  6. samudyatamprepared
  7. ataḥhence
  8. tvamyou
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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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.22

    In this verse: “heard”

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 clear about the spiritual commitments I have actually made?

Practice

Write down one spiritual commitment you have made and one way to honor it today.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnderstand and Honor Spiritual CommitmentsThis 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 3.22.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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