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

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Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 23: Devahūti’s Lamentation
3.23.483.23.50

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.23.49

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.23.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

पतिं सा प्रव्रजिष्यन्तं तदालक्ष्योशतीबहि: ।

स्मयमाना विक्लवेन हृदयेन विदूयता ॥ ४९ ॥

patiṁ sā pravrajiṣyantaṁ

tadālakṣyośatī bahiḥ

smayamānā viklavena

hṛdayena vidūyatā

Translation

When she saw her husband about to leave home, she smiled externally, but at heart she was agitated and distressed.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Keep Spiritual Realization the Main Concern

  1. 1

    Kardama Muni had completed his household affairs through mystic power. He was preparing to leave home according to his earlier promise.

  2. 2

    Devahūti was distressed to see him preparing to leave. Still, she smiled outwardly to satisfy her husband.

  3. 3

    The purport emphasizes that spiritual realization was Kardama Muni’s real concern. One whose main concern is Kṛṣṇa consciousness should be ready to leave household enticement.

Key points from the purport
  • The building of the castle in the air, traveling all over the universe with his wife in the company of beautiful girls, and begetting of children were finished, and now, according to his promise to leave home for his real concern of spiritual realization after impregnating his wife, he was about to go away.
  • Seeing her husband about to leave, Devahūti was very disturbed, but to satisfy her husband she was smiling.
  • The example of Kardama Muni should be understood very clearly; a person whose main concern is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, even if he is entrapped in household life, should always be ready to leave household enticement as soon as possible.

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

Longing and service → Preparedness. Family devotion turns toward higher spiritual fulfillment.

Chapters 20–24 of Canto 3: Kardama, Devahūti, family and renunciation. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 23: Devahūti’s Lamentation

Devahūti serves Kardama, shares his extraordinary household life, and asks who will comfort her after his departure.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. patimher husband
  2. sāshe
  3. pravrajiṣyantamgoing to leave home
  4. tadāthen
  5. ālakṣyaafter seeing
  6. uśatībeautiful
  7. bahiḥoutwardly
  8. smayamānāsmiling
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “distressed”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “household”

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 household attraction tends to push my spiritual purpose into the background?

Practice

Set aside one household diversion today and use that time for cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKeep Spiritual Realization the Main ConcernThis 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.

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