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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
3.22.283.22.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 3.22.29-30

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

बर्हिष्मती नाम पुरी सर्वसम्पत्समन्विता ।

न्यपतन् यत्र रोमाणि यज्ञस्याङ्गं विधुन्वत: ॥ २९ ॥

कुशा: काशास्त एवासन् शश्वद्धरितवर्चस: ।

ऋषयो यै: पराभाव्य यज्ञघ्नान् यज्ञमीजिरे ॥ ३० ॥

barhiṣmatī nāma purī

sarva-sampat-samanvitā

nyapatan yatra romāṇi

yajñasyāṅgaṁ vidhunvataḥ

kuśāḥ kāśās ta evāsan

śaśvad-dharita-varcasaḥ

ṛṣayo yaiḥ parābhāvya

yajña-ghnān yajñam ījire

Translation

The city of Barhiṣmatī, rich in all kinds of wealth, was so called because Lord Viṣṇu’s hair dropped there from His body when He manifested Himself as Lord Boar. As He shook His body, this very hair fell and turned into blades of evergreen kuśa grass and kāśa [another kind of grass used for mats], by means of which the sages worshiped Lord Viṣṇu after defeating the demons who had interfered with the performance of their sacrifices.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Work for the Satisfaction of Viṣṇu

  1. 1

    A place directly connected with the Supreme Lord is called pīṭha-sthāna. Barhiṣmatī was exalted by its connection with Lord Varāha, not merely by its wealth.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s fallen hairs became grass used by the sages in worship. Yajña means Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Yajñārtha-karma means work done only for Viṣṇu’s satisfaction. Work for sense gratification or another purpose binds the worker; work for His satisfaction frees one from its reactions.

Key points from the purport
  • Barhiṣmatī, the capital of Svāyambhuva Manu, was exalted not because the city was very rich in wealth and opulence, but because the hairs of Lord Varāha fell at this very spot.
  • Yajñārtha-karma means “work done only for the satisfaction of Viṣṇu.”
  • In the capital of Svāyambhuva Manu, Barhiṣmatī, these particular functions were being performed by the great sages and saintly persons.

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. barhiṣmatīBarhiṣmatī
  2. nāmanamed
  3. purīcity
  4. sarva-sampatall kinds of wealth
  5. samanvitāfull of
  6. nyapatanfell down
  7. yatrawhere
  8. romāṇithe hairs
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiped”, “worship”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”, “sense gratification”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Is my purpose in work my own gratification or the Lord’s satisfaction?

Practice

Before one task today, pause and consciously undertake it for the satisfaction of Lord Viṣṇu.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.22's connections

Live this todayWork for the Satisfaction of ViṣṇuThis 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 3.22.29-30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.