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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
3.22.223.22.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.22.23

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.22.21inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

शतरूपा महाराज्ञी पारिबर्हान्महाधनान् ।

दम्पत्यो: पर्यदात्प्रीत्या भूषावास: परिच्छदान् ॥ २३ ॥

śatarūpā mahā-rājñī

pāribarhān mahā-dhanān

dampatyoḥ paryadāt prītyā

bhūṣā-vāsaḥ paricchadān

Translation

Empress Śatarūpā lovingly gave most valuable presents, suitable for the occasion, such as jewelry, clothes and household articles, in dowry to the bride and bridegroom.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Giving With Affection and Within One’s Means

  1. 1

    Śatarūpā lovingly gave ornaments, clothing and household articles to the bride and bridegroom. These gifts suited the marriage of an emperor’s daughter.

  2. 2

    Kardama Muni, previously living as a brahmacārī, received the necessary articles for household life along with a qualified wife.

  3. 3

    The purport describes marriage gifts according to the family’s means; when unable to give more, one could give a fruit and a flower. It also notes that God can be pleased even by a fruit and a flower.

Key points from the purport
  • Pāribarhān mahā-dhanān means the dowry which must be awarded to the bridegroom at the time of marriage.
  • In the Vedic way of marriage such a dowry is still given to the bridegroom by the father of the bride; even in poverty-stricken India there are marriages where hundreds and thousands of rupees are spent for a dowry.
  • When there is financial inability and no question of accumulating a dowry by another means, one can give a fruit and flower for the satisfaction of the bridegroom.

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. śatarūpāEmpress Śatarūpā
  2. mahā-rājñīthe Empress
  3. pāribarhāndowry
  4. mahā-dhanānvaluable presents
  5. dam-patyoḥto the bride and bridegroom
  6. paryadātgave
  7. prītyāout of affection
  8. bhūṣāornaments
  9. vāsaḥclothes
  10. paricchadānarticles for household use
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.22

    In this verse: “household”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.22

    In this verse: “emperor’s”

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 express affection through a useful gift within my means?

Practice

Give someone a small, useful gift today as an expression of goodwill.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGiving With Affection and Within One’s MeansThis 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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