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

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Canto 2 · The Cosmic Manifestation · 10 chapters

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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 2 · Chapter 3: Pure Devotional Service: The Change in Heart

2.3.20 2.3.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 2.3.21

Mukti· Liberation

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śaunaka Ṛṣisince 2.3.13inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

भार: परं पट्टकिरीटजुष्ट -

मप्युत्तमाङ्गं न नमेन्मुकुन्दम् ।

शावौ करौ नो कुरुते सपर्यां

हरेर्लसत्काञ्चनकङ्कणौ वा ॥ २१ ॥

bhāraḥ paraṁ paṭṭa-kirīṭa-juṣṭam

apy uttamāṅgaṁ na namen mukundam

śāvau karau no kurute saparyāṁ

harer lasat-kāñcana-kaṅkaṇau vā

Translation

The upper portion of the body, though crowned with a silk turban, is only a heavy burden if not bowed down before the Personality of Godhead who can award mukti [freedom]. And the hands, though decorated with glittering bangles, are like those of a dead man if not engaged in the service of the Personality of Godhead Hari.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Bow Humbly and Serve the Lord

1
Whatever our wealth or position, we should accept the supremacy of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A decorated head that never bows before Him is only a heavy burden.
2
The Deity is not to be considered stone or wood; the Lord favors us by His presence in this worshipable form. Hearing from authentic sources such as Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam helps us realize His presence.
3
Hands become useful through service to the Lord, not merely through ornaments. Even someone with little time can spend a few seconds washing or sweeping the Lord’s temple.

Key points from the purport

But the common man, who is expected to become at least a third-class devotee, is advised herein to visit the temple of the Lord and bow down before the Deity, even though he may be a very rich man or even a king with a silk turban or crown.
The common man who is puffed up with his material position and does not bow down before the Deity of the Lord in the temple, or who defies temple worship without any knowledge of the science, must know that his so-called turban or crown will only succeed in further drowning him in the water of the ocean of material existence.
So even though a rich man’s wife has glittering bangles made of gold on her hands, she must engage herself in rendering service to the 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

Death anxiety → Steady attention. The answer to mortality begins with spiritual focus.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 2: The practice of hearing, remembering and devotion. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 3: Pure Devotional Service: The Change in Heart

Everyone should worship the Supreme Lord and engage the senses in devotion that changes the heart.

Back to this verse in chapter 2.3

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

bhāraḥa great burden
paramheavy
paṭṭasilk
kirīṭaturban
juṣṭamdressed with
apieven
uttamaupper
aṅgamparts of the body

Key ideas in this verse

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

Mukti · Liberation
What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 2.3
In this verse: “worshipable”
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 2.3
In this verse: “hearing”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 2.3
In this verse: “wealth”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does my sense of position make it harder for me to bow down and offer simple service?

Practice

During a temple visit today, offer to spend a few moments sweeping or cleaning for the Lord.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

2 lectures given on it · quoted in 2 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 2 other lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayBow Humbly and Serve the LordThis 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 2.3.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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