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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
3.23.553.23.57

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.23.56

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

नेह यत्कर्म धर्माय न विरागाय कल्पते ।

न तीर्थपदसेवायै जीवन्नपि मृतो हि स: ॥ ५६ ॥

neha yat karma dharmāya

na virāgāya kalpate

na tīrtha-pada-sevāyai

jīvann api mṛto hi saḥ

Translation

Anyone whose work is not meant to elevate him to religious life, anyone whose religious ritualistic performances do not raise him to renunciation, and anyone situated in renunciation that does not lead him to devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, must be considered dead, although he is breathing.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Is the Perfection of Work

  1. 1

    Work should lead to religious life, and religious life should lead to renunciation. Renunciation should then lead to devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    When this progression reaches devotional service, one attains the perfection of work. Work that does not ultimately lead to devotional service causes material bondage.

  3. 3

    Work that does not lead to understanding Kṛṣṇa consciousness is considered useless. The verse strongly compares a life without this spiritual direction to a dead body, although it is breathing.

Key points from the purport
  • Any work one performs that does not lead to the state of religious life is useless activity.
  • Everyone is by nature inclined to some sort of work, and when that work leads one to religious life and religious life leads one to renunciation and renunciation leads one to devotional service, one attains the perfection of work.
  • Work which does not lead one to the understanding of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is considered useless.

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. nanot
  2. ihahere
  3. yatwhich
  4. karmawork
  5. dharmāyafor perfection of religious life
  6. nanot
  7. virāgāyafor detachment
  8. kalpateleads
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “religious”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    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

Is my work helping me move toward devotional service, or merely keeping me occupied?

Practice

Choose one regular task and consider one concrete way to direct it toward devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Is the Perfection of WorkThis 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 3.23.56? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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