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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
3.22.23.22.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.22.3

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Manusince 3.22.2inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तत्‍त्राणायासृजच्चास्मान् दो:सहस्रात्सहस्रपात् ।

हृदयं तस्य हि ब्रह्म क्षत्रमङ्गं प्रचक्षते ॥ ३ ॥

tat-trāṇāyāsṛjac cāsmān

doḥ-sahasrāt sahasra-pāt

hṛdayaṁ tasya hi brahma

kṣatram aṅgaṁ pracakṣate

Translation

For the protection of the brāhmaṇas, the thousand-legged Supreme Being created us, the kṣatriyas, from His thousand arms. Hence the brāhmaṇas are said to be His heart and the kṣatriyas His arms.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Protect the Foundations of Spiritual Society

  1. 1

    Kṣatriyas are specifically meant to maintain and protect the brāhmaṇas. Protecting the brāhmaṇas protects the head of civilization.

  2. 2

    The Lord especially protects the cows and brāhmaṇas. The purport presents brahminical culture and cow protection as basic principles of human civilization.

  3. 3

    The brāhmaṇas are compared to the heart and the kṣatriyas to the arms. Though the heart is smaller than the whole body, its importance is vital.

Key points from the purport
  • Kṣatriyas are specifically meant to maintain the brāhmaṇas because if the brāhmaṇas are protected, then the head of civilization is protected.
  • The purport of this prayer is that the Lord specifically protects the brāhmaṇas and the cows, and then He protects all other members of society (jagad-dhitāya).
  • Kṣatriyas are especially meant to protect the brāhmaṇas, as is the supreme will of the Lord: go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya ca.

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. tat-trāṇāyafor the protection of the brāhmaṇas
  2. asṛjatcreated
  3. caand
  4. asmānus ( kṣatriyas)
  5. doḥ-sahasrātfrom His thousand arms
  6. sahasra-pātthe thousand-legged Supreme Being (the universal form)
  7. hṛdayamheart
  8. tasyaHis
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 3.22

    In this verse: “protection”, “protect”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.22

    In this verse: “principles”

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 support the care and protection that spiritual culture needs?

Practice

Offer one small act of practical support to cow protection or the preservation of brahminical learning.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayProtect the Foundations of Spiritual SocietyThis 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 3.22.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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