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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.

Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Canto 8 · Chapter 16: Executing the Payo-vrata Process of Worship

8.16.10 8.16.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.16.11

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Aditisince 8.16.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीअदितिरुवाच

भद्रं द्विजगवां ब्रह्मन्धर्मस्यास्य जनस्य च ।

त्रिवर्गस्य परं क्षेत्रं गृहमेधिन्गृहा इमे ॥ ११ ॥

śrī-aditir uvāca

bhadraṁ dvija-gavāṁ brahman

dharmasyāsya janasya ca

tri-vargasya paraṁ kṣetraṁ

gṛhamedhin gṛhā ime

Translation

Aditi said: O my respected brāhmaṇa husband, all is well with the brāhmaṇas, the cows, religion and the welfare of other people. O master of the house, the three principles of dharma, artha and kāma flourish in household life, which is consequently full of good fortune.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Household Prosperity Through Religious Principles

1
Household life allows religion, economic development and sense gratification to develop according to the regulations of the śāstras.
2
Aditi assured her husband that the brāhmaṇas and cows were honored and protected. Religious life and the welfare of the people were progressing without disturbance.
3
The purport distinguishes household prosperity from liberation. To attain liberation, one must give up household life and enter the transcendental renounced order.

Key points from the purport

In household life one can develop the three principles of religion, economic development and sense gratification according to the regulations given in the śāstras, but to attain liberation one must give up household life and place himself in the transcendental renounced order.
Aditi, his wife, assured him that as far as household life was concerned, everything was going nicely, and the brāhmaṇas and cows were being honored and protected.
In other words, there were no disturbances; household life was duly progressing.

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

Loss and hope → Revelation. A shift in fortune sets up a spiritual test.

Chapters 15–18 of Canto 8: Bali, Aditi and Vāmana's appearance. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 16: Executing the Payo-vrata Process of Worship

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

She wanted all good fortune for her sons. Moved by Aditi’s request, Kaśyapa Muni instructed her in the philosophy of self-realization, the difference between matter and spirit, and how to be unaffected by material loss.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.16

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

śrī-aditiḥ uvācaŚrīmatī Aditi said
bhadramall auspiciousness
dvija-gavāmof the brāhmaṇas and the cows
brahmanO brāhmaṇa
dharmasya asyaof the religious principles mentioned in śāstra
janasyaof the people in general
caand
tri-vargasyaof the three processes of elevation ( dharma, artha and kāma)

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 8.16
In this verse: “religion”, “dharma”, “principles”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.16
In this verse: “household”, “sense gratification”
Karuṇā · Compassion
Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 8.16
In this verse: “welfare”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How much does my idea of a flourishing home include religious principles and the welfare of others?

Practice

Choose one household responsibility that supports another person's welfare, and carry it out carefully today.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHousehold Prosperity Through Religious PrinciplesThis 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 8.16.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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