1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.23.10

Who is speaking and story frame

देवहूतिरुवाच

राद्धं बत द्विजवृषैतदमोघयोग-

मायाधिपे त्वयि विभो तदवैमि भर्त: ।

यस्तेऽभ्यधायि समय: सकृदङ्गसङ्गो

भूयाद्गरीयसि गुण: प्रसव: सतीनाम् ॥ १० ॥

devahūtir uvāca

rāddhaṁ bata dvija-vṛṣaitad amogha-yoga-

māyādhipe tvayi vibho tad avaimi bhartaḥ

yas te ’bhyadhāyi samayaḥ sakṛd aṅga-saṅgo

bhūyād garīyasi guṇaḥ prasavaḥ satīnām

Translation

Śrī Devahūti said: My dear husband, O best of brāhmaṇas, I know that you have achieved perfection and are the master of all the infallible mystic powers because you are under the protection of yoga-māyā, the transcendental nature. But you once made a promise that our bodily union should now fulfill, since children are a great quality for a chaste woman who has a glorious husband.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Marks Spiritual Shelter

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord has material and spiritual energies, and living entities are His marginal energy. They may come under either material or spiritual control.

  2. 2

    Kardama Muni was under yoga-māyā, the spiritual energy, and directly connected with the Supreme Lord. The symptom of this shelter is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, constant engagement in devotional service.

  3. 3

    Devahūti reminded her husband of his promise and desired a child who would share his good qualities. She also desired God’s grace and love of God.

Key points from the purport
  • Devahūti expressed her happiness by uttering the word bata, for she knew that her husband was in a highly elevated transcendental position and was under the shelter of yoga-māyā.
  • Kardama Muni was a great soul, and therefore he was under the spiritual energy, which means that he was directly connected with the Supreme Lord.
  • Since she had the opportunity to have Kardama Muni as her husband, she also desired to have a child by bodily union.

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 23: Devahūti’s Lamentation

Devahūti serves Kardama, shares his extraordinary household life, and asks who will comfort her after his departure.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. devahūtiḥ uvācaDevahūti said
  2. rāddhamit has been achieved
  3. bataindeed
  4. dvija-vṛṣaO best of the brāhmaṇas
  5. etatthis
  6. amoghainfallible
  7. yoga-māyāof mystic powers
  8. adhipethe master
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “children”, “child”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “protection”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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 my daily choices express a desire for devotional service and love of God?

Practice

Set aside a few quiet minutes today to remember Kṛṣṇa and pray for love of God.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Marks Spiritual ShelterThis 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 3.23.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.