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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 3 · Chapter 23: Devahūti’s Lamentation
3.23.543.23.56

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.23.55

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Devahūtisince 3.23.51inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

सङ्गो य: संसृतेर्हेतुरसत्सु विहितोऽधिया ।

स एव साधुषु कृतो नि:सङ्गत्वाय कल्पते ॥ ५५ ॥

saṅgo yaḥ saṁsṛter hetur

asatsu vihito ’dhiyā

sa eva sādhuṣu kṛto

niḥsaṅgatvāya kalpate

Translation

Association for sense gratification is certainly the path of bondage. But the same type of association, performed with a saintly person, leads to the path of liberation, even if performed without knowledge.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Saintly Association Leads Toward Liberation

  1. 1

    Association for sense gratification leads to bondage. Association with a saintly person leads toward liberation, even when its value is not understood.

  2. 2

    Those who associated with Lord Kṛṣṇa in different ways all received liberation. Association with the Lord has spiritual efficacy even when one does not understand who He is.

  3. 3

    Saintly association is compared to approaching fire: knowingly or unknowingly, one becomes warm. Devahūti feels grateful because Kardama Muni’s spiritual greatness can bring her liberation.

Key points from the purport
  • The association of a saintly person in any way bears the same result.
  • But whether they associated with Kṛṣṇa as enemies or for sense gratification, out of fear or as pure devotees, they all got liberation.
  • Association with a great saintly person also results in liberation, just as whether one goes toward fire knowingly or unknowingly, the fire will make one warm.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saṅgaḥassociation
  2. yaḥwhich
  3. saṁsṛteḥof the cycle of birth and death
  4. hetuḥthe cause
  5. asatsuwith those engaged in sense gratification
  6. vihitaḥdone
  7. adhiyāthrough ignorance
  8. saḥthe same thing
3

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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

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

How does this teaching change the value I place on saintly association?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to hear or read the teachings of a saintly person.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

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 3.23's connections

Live this todaySaintly Association Leads Toward LiberationThis 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 3.23.55? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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