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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 22: The Marriage of Kardama Muni and Devahūti
3.22.183.22.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.22.19

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The great sagesince 3.22.15inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

अतो भजिष्ये समयेन साध्वीं

यावत्तेजो बिभृयादात्मनो मे ।

अतो धर्मान् पारमहंस्यमुख्यान्

शुक्लप्रोक्तान् बहु मन्येऽविहिंस्रान् ॥ १९ ॥

ato bhajiṣye samayena sādhvīṁ

yāvat tejo bibhṛyād ātmano me

ato dharmān pāramahaṁsya-mukhyān

śukla-proktān bahu manye ’vihiṁsrān

Translation

Therefore I shall accept this chaste girl as my wife, on the condition that after she bears semen from my body, I shall accept the life of devotional service accepted by the most perfect human beings. That process was described by Lord Viṣṇu. It is free from envy.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Make Devotional Service Life's Goal

  1. 1

    Kardama Muni accepted marriage on the condition that, after begetting a child, he would devote himself to the highest life of devotional service.

  2. 2

    The purport teaches that parenthood carries a spiritual responsibility: children should be trained in Kṛṣṇa consciousness for liberation. Human life is meant for complete devotion to the Lord's service.

  3. 3

    The paramahaṁsa is free from envy. When one's activities are completely engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or devotional service, there is no scope for envy.

Key points from the purport
  • In the next part of life, one may accept a wife and beget children, but one should not beget children like cats and dogs.
  • Unless one can train a child for liberation in that life, there is no need to marry or produce children.
  • In other words, sex life should be utilized only to produce a nice child, not for any other purpose.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ataḥtherefore
  2. bhajiṣyeI shall accept
  3. samayenaon the conditions
  4. sādhvīmthe chaste girl
  5. yāvatuntil
  6. tejaḥsemen
  7. bibhṛyātmay bear
  8. ātmanaḥfrom my body
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.22

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 3.22

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.22

    In this verse: “child”

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 keep devotional service as my goal while fulfilling present responsibilities?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today specifically for devotional service, leaving competitive thoughts aside.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayMake Devotional Service Life's GoalThis 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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