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

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233

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 7: Further Inquires by Vidura
3.7.243.7.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.7.25

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vidurasince 3.7.15inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

प्रजापतीनां स पतिश्चक्लृपे कान् प्रजापतीन् ।

सर्गांश्चैवानुसर्गांश्च मनून्मन्वन्तराधिपान् ॥ २५ ॥

prajāpatīnāṁ sa patiś

cakḷpe kān prajāpatīn

sargāṁś caivānusargāṁś ca

manūn manvantarādhipān

Translation

O learned brāhmaṇa, please describe how the leader of all the demigods, namely the Prajāpati, Brahmā, decided to establish the various Manus, the heads of the ages. Please describe the Manus also, and please describe the descendants of those Manus.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Manus and Their Descendants

  1. 1

    Brahmā, the Prajāpati and leader of the demigods, established the various Manus as heads of the ages.

  2. 2

    The human race descends from the Manus, who are sons and grandsons of Brahmā.

  3. 3

    The descendants of Manu reside on the different planets and rule throughout the universe. The inquiry asks about both the Manus and their descendants.

Key points from the purport
  • The human race, or manuṣya-sara, descends from the Manus, sons and grandsons of the Prajāpati, Brahmā.
  • The descendants of Manu reside in all the different planets and rule all the universe.

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 7: Further Inquires by Vidura

Vidura asks about illusion, the soul, creation, religious duties, and the relationship between teacher and disciple.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prajā-patīnāmof the demigods like Brahmā and others
  2. saḥhe
  3. patiḥleader
  4. cakḷpedecided
  5. kānwhomsoever
  6. prajāpatīnfathers of the living entities
  7. sargāngenerations
  8. caalso
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.7

    In this verse: “inquiry”

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

What does this account invite me to learn about the origins of the human race?

Practice

Write a short summary of the relationship between Brahmā, the Manus and the human race.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Manus and Their DescendantsThis 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 3.7.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories