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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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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 ›
Canto 3 · Chapter 24: The Renunciation of Kardama Muni
3.24.293.24.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.24.30

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Kardama Munisince 3.24.30inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

स्वीयं वाक्यमृतं कर्तुमवतीर्णोऽसि मे गृहे ।

चिकीर्षुर्भगवान् ज्ञानं भक्तानां मानवर्धन: ॥ ३० ॥

svīyaṁ vākyam ṛtaṁ kartum

avatīrṇo ’si me gṛhe

cikīrṣur bhagavān jñānaṁ

bhaktānāṁ māna-vardhanaḥ

Translation

Kardama Muni said: You, my dear Lord, who are always increasing the honor of Your devotees, have descended in my home just to fulfill Your word and disseminate the process of real knowledge.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Real Knowledge Leads to Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The Lord had promised to become Kardama Muni’s son. He descended in Kardama’s home to fulfill His word.

  2. 2

    He also appeared to distribute knowledge and increase His devotees’ honor. The Sāṅkhya taught by Kapila Muni establishes one firmly in devotional service, rather than dry speculation.

  3. 3

    Real knowledge and real liberation mean surrendering unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead and engaging in devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • By distributing Sāṅkhya He would increase the honor of the devotees; therefore Sāṅkhya philosophy is not dry mental speculation.
  • How could the honor of the devotees be increased unless Sāṅkhya were meant for devotional service?
  • Devotees are not interested in speculative knowledge; therefore the Sāṅkhya enunciated by Kapila Muni is meant to establish one firmly in devotional service.

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 24: The Renunciation of Kardama Muni

Kapila appears as Devahūti’s son, the daughters marry, and Kardama renounces family life with the Lord’s permission.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.24
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. svīyamYour own
  2. vākyamwords
  3. ṛtamtrue
  4. kartumto make
  5. avatīrṇaḥdescended
  6. asiYou are
  7. me gṛhein my house
  8. cikīrṣuḥdesirous of disseminating
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.24

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional service”, “devotees’”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.24

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.24

    In this verse: “surrendering”

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

Is my spiritual study helping me become more firmly engaged in devotional service?

Practice

Before studying today, offer a brief prayer that your learning will help you serve the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReal Knowledge Leads to Devotional ServiceThis 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 3.24.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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