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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 24: The Renunciation of Kardama Muni
3.24.153.24.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.24.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 3.24.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

वेदाहमाद्यं पुरुषमवतीर्णं स्वमायया ।

भूतानां शेवधिं देहं बिभ्राणं कपिलं मुने ॥ १६ ॥

vedāham ādyaṁ puruṣam

avatīrṇaṁ sva-māyayā

bhūtānāṁ śevadhiṁ dehaṁ

bibhrāṇaṁ kapilaṁ mune

Translation

O Kardama, I know that the original Supreme Personality of Godhead has now appeared as an incarnation by His internal energy. He is the bestower of all that is desired by the living entities, and He has now assumed the body of Kapila Muni.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Appears Through His Internal Energy

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared as Kapila Muni through His own internal potency. His body is not material, even when He appears in a human form.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is not an ordinary human being. The spiritual world manifests His internal potency, while the material world manifests His differentiated energy.

  3. 3

    The Lord is the supreme individual, not impersonal. He supplies the necessities of all other living entities, and this distinguishes Him from ordinary souls.

Key points from the purport
  • The word sva-māyayā, “by His own internal potency,” indicates that whenever the Supreme Personality of Godhead descends He comes in His own energy.
  • The word śevadhim means that He is the original bestower of all the necessities of life upon the living entities.
  • As we are individual, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is also individual — but He is the supreme individual.

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. vedaknow
  2. ahamI
  3. ādyamthe original
  4. puruṣamenjoyer
  5. avatīrṇamincarnated
  6. sva-māyayāby His own internal energy
  7. bhūtānāmof all the living entities
  8. śevadhimthe bestower of all that is desired, who is just like a vast treasure
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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

  • 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.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does knowing that the Lord is the supreme individual shape my relationship with Him?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer of gratitude to Kṛṣṇa for one necessity of life you received today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Appears Through His Internal EnergyThis 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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