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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 23: Devahūti’s Lamentation
3.23.113.23.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.23.12

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.23.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

प्रियाया: प्रियमन्विच्छन् कर्दमो योगमास्थित: ।

विमानं कामगं क्षत्तस्तर्ह्येवाविरचीकरत् ॥ १२ ॥

maitreya uvāca

priyāyāḥ priyam anvicchan

kardamo yogam āsthitaḥ

vimānaṁ kāma-gaṁ kṣattas

tarhy evāviracīkarat

Translation

Maitreya continued: O Vidura, seeking to please his beloved wife, the sage Kardama exercised his yogic power and instantly produced an aerial mansion that could travel at his will.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kardama Uses Yogic Power Thoughtfully

  1. 1

    Kardama sought to please his beloved wife. By his yogic power, he instantly produced an aerial mansion that could travel at his will.

  2. 2

    The purport describes eight kinds of yogic perfection, including becoming smaller, greater or lighter, and obtaining what one desires.

  3. 3

    Creating this mansion was not extraordinary for a perfected yogī like Kardama. The purport also distinguishes yogic perfection from the further attainment of spiritual perfection.

Key points from the purport
  • The sage Kardama was completely perfect in yoga.
  • Thus it was not very wonderful for Kardama Muni to create a mansion in the air, according to his own desire, to fulfill the desire of his beloved wife.
  • He at once created the palace, which is described in the following verses.

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. maitreyaḥthe great sage Maitreya
  2. uvācasaid
  3. priyāyāḥof his beloved wife
  4. priyamthe pleasure
  5. anvicchanseeking
  6. kardamaḥthe sage Kardama
  7. yogamyogic power
  8. āsthitaḥexercised
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

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

Do remarkable abilities attract me more than spiritual perfection itself?

Practice

Use one ability you already have to do a small, thoughtful kindness for someone today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKardama Uses Yogic Power ThoughtfullyThis 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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