FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.22.31

कुशकाशमयं बर्हिरास्तीर्य भगवान्मनु: । अयजद्यज्ञपुरुषं लब्धा स्थानं यतो भुवम् ॥ ३१ ॥
kuśa-kāśamayaṁ barhir
[kusha-kaashamayam barhir]
āstīrya bhagavān manuḥ
[aasteerya bhagavaan manuh]
ayajad yajña-puruṣaṁ
[ayajad yajna-purusham]
labdhā sthānaṁ yato bhuvam
[labdhaa sthaanam yato bhuvam]
kuśa — of kuśa grass kāśa — and of kāśa grass mayam — made barhiḥ — a seat āstīrya — having spread bhagavān — the greatly fortunate manuḥ — Svāyambhuva Manu ayajat — worshiped yajña-puruṣam — Lord Viṣṇu labdhā — had achieved sthānam — the abode yataḥ — from whom bhuvam — the earth.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kuśa-kāśamayaṁ barhir
kuśa
of kuśa grass
kāśa
and of kāśa grass
mayam
made
barhiḥ
a seat
āstīrya bhagavān manuḥ
āstīrya
having spread
bhagavān
the greatly fortunate
manuḥ
Svāyambhuva Manu
ayajad yajña-puruṣaṁ
ayajat
worshiped
yajña-puruṣam
Lord Viṣṇu
labdhā sthānaṁ yato bhuvam
labdhā
had achieved
sthānam
the abode
yataḥ
from whom
bhuvam
the earth.
Manu spread a seat of kuśas and kāśas and worshiped the Lord, the Personality of Godhead, by whose grace he had obtained the rule of the terrestrial globe.

Manu is the father of mankind, and therefore from manu comes the word man, or, in Sanskrit, manuṣya. Those who are in a better position in the world, having sufficient wealth, should especially take lessons from Manu, who acknowledged his kingdom and opulence to be gifts from the Supreme Personality of Godhead and thus always engaged in devotional service. Similarly, the descendants of Manu, or human beings, especially those who are situated in a well-to-do condition, must consider that whatever riches they have are gifts from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Those riches should be utilized for the service of the Lord in sacrifices performed to please Him. That is the way of utilizing wealth and opulence. No one can achieve wealth, opulence, good birth, a beautiful body or nice education without the mercy of the Supreme Lord. Therefore, those who are in possession of such valuable facilities must acknowledge their gratefulness to the Lord by worshiping Him and offering what they have received from Him. When such acknowledgment is given, either by a family, nation or society, their abode becomes almost like Vaikuṇṭha, and it becomes free from the operation of the threefold miseries of this material world. In the modern age the mission of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is for everyone to acknowledge the supremacy of Lord Kṛṣṇa; whatever one has in his possession must be considered a gift by the grace of the Lord. Therefore everyone should engage in devotional service through Kṛṣṇa consciousness. If one wants to be happy and peaceful in his position, either as a householder or citizen or member of human society, one must promote devotional service for the pleasure of the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
In this place, spreading kuśa and kāśa grass, the great Manu worshipped the Supreme Lord, after attaining the earth to rule. Barhis refers to both kuśa and kāśa. He attained (labdhā) the earth to rule.
Material life is described here not as something to fix from inside but to see through. The verse names suffering honestly so the reader stops expecting permanent happiness from impermanent arrangements. The verse anchors this in Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Reflection Questions
  • Which recurring problem in your life keeps promising 'just one more fix' before it ends?
  • Where is māyā's hand most active in your week, and how could you cooperate with reality instead?
📝 My note

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