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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
3.23.63.23.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.23.7

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Kardama Munisince 3.23.7inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

ये मे स्वधर्मनिरतस्य तप:समाधि-

विद्यात्मयोगविजिता भगवत्प्रसादा: ।

तानेव ते मदनुसेवनयावरुद्धान्

द‍ृष्टिं प्रपश्य वितराम्यभयानशोकान् ॥ ७ ॥

ye me sva-dharma-niratasya tapaḥ-samādhi-

vidyātma-yoga-vijitā bhagavat-prasādāḥ

tān eva te mad-anusevanayāvaruddhān

dṛṣṭiṁ prapaśya vitarāmy abhayān aśokān

Translation

Kardama Muni continued: I have achieved the blessings of the Lord in discharging my own religious life of austerity, meditation and Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Although you have not yet experienced these achievements, which are free from fear and lamentation, I shall offer them all to you because you are engaged in my service. Now just look at them. I am giving you the transcendental vision to see how nice they are.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serving Devotees Brings the Lord’s Grace

  1. 1

    Through serving Kardama Muni, Devahūti shared his spiritual achievements even before she could perceive them. He offered her transcendental vision to experience the Lord’s blessings.

  2. 2

    Unlike material wealth, the Lord’s grace is never lost and is free from fear and lamentation. Love of Kṛṣṇa is the highest perfection of this divine mercy.

  3. 3

    The purport calls wholehearted service to a bona fide spiritual master the easiest path to spiritual achievement. Through the spiritual master’s grace, a sincere disciple receives the grace of the Supreme Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • Devahūti engaged only in the service of Kardama Muni.
  • By the grace of Kardama Muni, Devahūti experienced actual realization simply by serving.
  • Similarly, a sincere disciple, simply by serving a bona fide spiritual master, can achieve all the mercy of the Lord and the spiritual master simultaneously.

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. yethose which
  2. meby me
  3. sva-dharmaown religious life
  4. niratasyafully occupied with
  5. tapaḥin austerity
  6. samādhiin meditation
  7. vidyāin Kṛṣṇa consciousness
  8. ātma-yogaby fixing the mind
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “blessings”, “mercy”, “grace”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 3.23

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religious”

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

Am I seeking lasting spiritual grace or security in possessions that can be lost?

Practice

Offer one small, sincere service to a devotee today without asking for anything in return.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServing Devotees Brings the Lord’s GraceThis 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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