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

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 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 1 · Chapter 3: Kṛṣṇa Is the Source of All Incarnations
1.3.91.3.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.3.10

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.3.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

पञ्चम: कपिलो नाम सिद्धेश: कालविप्लुतम् ।

प्रोवाचासुरये साङ्ख्यं तत्त्वग्रामविनिर्णयम् ॥ १० ॥

pañcamaḥ kapilo nāma

siddheśaḥ kāla-viplutam

provācāsuraye sāṅkhyaṁ

tattva-grāma-vinirṇayam

Translation

The fifth incarnation, named Lord Kapila, is foremost among perfected beings. He gave an exposition of the creative elements and metaphysics to Āsuri Brāhmaṇa, for in course of time this knowledge had been lost.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kapila Restores Knowledge Through Clear Analysis

  1. 1

    Lord Kapila, the fifth incarnation, is foremost among perfected beings. He taught Āsuri Brāhmaṇa knowledge that had been lost over time.

  2. 2

    The creative elements number twenty-four. Sāṅkhya philosophy explicitly explains each of them.

  3. 3

    Sāṅkhya means clear explanation through analysis of the material elements. The purport identifies Lord Kapila as the first to give this analysis.

Key points from the purport
  • The sum total of the creative elements is twenty-four in all.
  • Sāṅkhya philosophy is generally called metaphysics by the European scholars.
  • This was done for the first time by Lord Kapila, who is said herein to be the fifth in the line of incarnations.

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

Concern → Purpose. A spiritually urgent question emerges for the age of Kali.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 1: The sages ask the ultimate questions. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: Kṛṣṇa Is the Source of All Incarnations

Sūta describes the Lord’s incarnations and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam as His literary incarnation.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.3
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pañcamaḥthe fifth one
  2. kapilaḥKapila
  3. nāmaof the name
  4. siddheśaḥthe foremost amongst the perfect
  5. kālatime
  6. viplutamlost
  7. provācasaid
  8. āsurayeunto the brāhmaṇa named Āsuri
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.3

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “philosophy”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.3

    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

What can you learn from Lord Kapila's clear, analytical approach to knowledge?

Practice

Write one sentence explaining the meaning of Sāṅkhya using this verse's purport.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

7

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 1.3's connections

Live this todayKapila Restores Knowledge Through Clear AnalysisThis 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 1.3.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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