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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 24: The Renunciation of Kardama Muni
3.24.93.24.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.24.10

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.24.10inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

भगवन्तं परं ब्रह्म सत्त्वेनांशेन शत्रुहन् ।

तत्त्वसंख्यानविज्ञप्‍त्यै जातं विद्वानज: स्वराट् ॥ १० ॥

bhagavantaṁ paraṁ brahma

sattvenāṁśena śatru-han

tattva-saṅkhyāna-vijñaptyai

jātaṁ vidvān ajaḥ svarāṭ

Translation

Maitreya continued: O killer of the enemy, the unborn Lord Brahmā, who is almost independent in acquiring knowledge, could understand that a portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His quality of pure existence, had appeared in the womb of Devahūti just to explain the complete state of knowledge known as sāṅkhya-yoga.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kapila Teaches Knowledge from the Supreme

  1. 1

    Kapila, the son of Kardama Muni, is the Lord’s incarnation, distinct from the imitation Kapila. His Sāṅkhya philosophy explains both the material and spiritual worlds.

  2. 2

    Brahmā received knowledge directly from the Supreme Lord within his heart. He understood that the Lord had appeared to explain sāṅkhya-yoga.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s name, form, qualities and associates belong to pure transcendental goodness. Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ultimate Godhead and cause of all causes; His expansions are not different from Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Brahmā acquired knowledge directly from the Supreme Lord within the heart; therefore he is sometimes called svarāṭ and aja.
  • Sattvenāṁśena: when the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears, He brings with Him all His paraphernalia of Vaikuṇṭha; therefore His name, His form, His quality, His paraphernalia and His entourage all belong to the transcendental world.
  • Another meaning is that when one is purely situated in the qualities of goodness, he can understand the form, name, quality, paraphernalia and entourage of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 24: The Renunciation of Kardama Muni

Kapila appears as Devahūti’s son, the daughters marry, and Kardama renounces family life with the Lord’s permission.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.24
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhagavantamthe Lord
  2. paramsupreme
  3. brahmaBrahman
  4. sattvenahaving an uncontaminated existence
  5. aṁśenaby a plenary portion
  6. śatru-hanO killer of the enemy, Vidura
  7. tattva-saṅkhyānathe philosophy of the twenty-four material elements
  8. vijñaptyaifor explaining
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.24

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”, “philosophy”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.24

    In this verse: “material”

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

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does knowing the divine source of Kapila’s teaching affect my approach to studying it?

Practice

Before studying today, pause to remember that Kṛṣṇa is the ultimate source and that Kapila’s teaching explains both matter and spirit.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKapila Teaches Knowledge from the SupremeThis 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 3.24.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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