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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 6: Creation of the Universal Form
3.6.323.6.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.6.33

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

पद्‍भ्यां भगवतो जज्ञे शुश्रूषा धर्मसिद्धये ।

तस्यां जात: पुरा शूद्रो यद्‌वृत्त्या तुष्यते हरि: ॥ ३३ ॥

padbhyāṁ bhagavato jajñe

śuśrūṣā dharma-siddhaye

tasyāṁ jātaḥ purā śūdro

yad-vṛttyā tuṣyate hariḥ

Translation

Thereafter, service was manifested from the legs of the Personality of Godhead for the sake of perfecting the religious function. Situated on the legs are the śūdras, who satisfy the Lord by service.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Service to the Lord Perfects Life

  1. 1

    Service is the natural occupation of every living being. Religious perfection comes through service to the Lord, not merely through theoretical knowledge.

  2. 2

    The desire to become the master is the basic disease of conditioned life. Transcendental loving service is different from material service driven by this desire for mastery.

  3. 3

    Every social order can perfect its duties by serving the Lord. Even without a perfect social position, a person becomes perfect by developing an attitude of service to the Supreme Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • The living entities are meant to render service to the Lord, and they can attain religious perfection by this service attitude.
  • Every living being — even if he be a brāhmaṇa by qualification — must take to the transcendental service of the Lord.
  • Even if one is not a perfect brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra but takes to the service of the Lord, not caring for the perfection of his social position, he becomes a perfect human being simply by developing the attitude of service to the Supreme Lord.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. padbhyāmfrom the legs
  2. bhagavataḥof the Personality of Godhead
  3. jajñebecame manifested
  4. śuśrūṣāservice
  5. dharmaoccupational duty
  6. siddhayefor the matter of
  7. tasyāmin that
  8. jātaḥbeing generated
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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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religious”, “duties”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.6

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.6

    In this verse: “material”

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

Where could I replace the wish to be in charge with a sincere desire to serve the Lord?

Practice

Choose one duty today and do it carefully with the intention of satisfying the Lord rather than gaining praise.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayService to the Lord Perfects LifeThis 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 3.6.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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