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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 6: Creation of the Universal Form
3.6.313.6.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.6.32

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.6.11inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

विशोऽवर्तन्त तस्योर्वोर्लोकवृत्तिकरीर्विभो: ।

वैश्यस्तदुद्भवो वार्तां नृणां य: समवर्तयत् ॥ ३२ ॥

viśo ’vartanta tasyorvor

loka-vṛttikarīr vibhoḥ

vaiśyas tad-udbhavo vārtāṁ

nṛṇāṁ yaḥ samavartayat

Translation

The means of livelihood of all persons, namely production of grains and their distribution to the prajās, was generated from the thighs of the Lord’s gigantic form. The mercantile men who take charge of such execution are called vaiśyas.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Livelihood Through Agriculture, Protection, and Cooperation

  1. 1

    The production and distribution of grains arose from the thighs of the Lord’s gigantic form. Those who carry out this work are called vaiśyas.

  2. 2

    The duties of vaiśyas include cow protection, agriculture, and business. Banking and transportation support the exchange of agricultural produce.

  3. 3

    The social orders have distinct responsibilities in teaching, protection, production, and service. The purport describes their cooperation, including support for spiritual teachers, as essential to a peaceful society.

Key points from the purport
  • Human society’s means of living is clearly mentioned here as viśa, or agriculture and the business of distributing agricultural products, which involves transport, banking, etc. Industry is an artificial means of livelihood, and large-scale industry especially is the source of all the problems of society.
  • The brāhmaṇas are the teachers and spiritual masters, the kṣatriyas protect the citizens from the hands of thieves and miscreants, and the vaiśyas are in charge of production and distribution.
  • The kṣatriyas would collect taxes from the vaiśyas and śūdras, but the brāhmaṇas were exempt from paying income tax or land revenue.

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

Mystery → Cosmic wonder. The origin of the world is revealed through inquiry and divine grace.

Chapters 5–12 of Canto 3: Creation and Brahmā's bewilderment. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 6: Creation of the Universal Form

The Lord enters the material elements, manifesting the universal form with its senses, deities, and social orders.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. viśaḥmeans of living by production and distribution
  2. avartantagenerated
  3. tasyaHis (the gigantic form’s)
  4. ūrvoḥfrom the thighs
  5. loka-vṛttikarīḥmeans of livelihood
  6. vibhoḥof the Lord
  7. vaiśyaḥthe mercantile community
  8. tattheir
3

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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.6

    In this verse: “duties”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 3.6

    In this verse: “protection”

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 does my daily food depend on the work and cooperation of others?

Practice

At one meal today, identify a grain or vegetable and reflect on the cultivation and distribution that brought it to you.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLivelihood Through Agriculture, Protection, and CooperationThis 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 3.6.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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