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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
3.24.333.24.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.24.34

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Kardama Munisince 3.24.30inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

आ स्माभिपृच्छेऽद्य पतिं प्रजानां

त्वयावतीर्णर्ण उताप्तकाम: ।

परिव्रजत्पदवीमास्थितोऽहं

चरिष्ये त्वां हृदि युञ्जन् विशोक: ॥ ३४ ॥

ā smābhipṛcche ’dya patiṁ prajānāṁ

tvayāvatīrṇarṇa utāpta-kāmaḥ

parivrajat-padavīm āsthito ’haṁ

cariṣye tvāṁ hṛdi yuñjan viśokaḥ

Translation

Today I have something to ask from You, who are the Lord of all living entities. Since I have now been liberated by You from my debts to my father, and since all my desires are fulfilled, I wish to accept the order of an itinerant mendicant. Renouncing this family life, I wish to wander about, free from lamentation, thinking always of You in my heart.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

True Renunciation Means Remembering Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Sannyāsa, or renunciation of material household life, requires complete absorption in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. It is not a means to acquire possessions, amass money or create another family.

  2. 2

    Some devotees live among followers to organize preaching of the Lord’s glories, while others remain alone with God. Kardama Muni wished to be free from anxieties and remain with the Supreme Personality of Godhead within his heart.

  3. 3

    A wandering mendicant’s duty is to move from door to door and enlighten people about Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The heart of renunciation is remembering and serving the Lord, not merely leaving home.

Key points from the purport
  • Actually, sannyāsa, or renunciation of material household life, necessitates complete absorption in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and immersion in the self.
  • One does not take sannyāsa, freedom from family responsibility in the renounced order of life, to make another family or to create an embarrassing transcendental fraud in the name of sannyāsa.
  • A sannyāsī is proud that he is always thinking of Kṛṣṇa within himself.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ā sma abhipṛccheI am inquiring
  2. adyanow
  3. patimthe Lord
  4. prajānāmof all created beings
  5. tvayāby You
  6. avatīrṇa-ṛṇaḥfree from debts
  7. utaand
  8. āptafulfilled
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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 3.24

    In this verse: “renouncing”, “free from”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.24

    In this verse: “father”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “household”, “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

Am I giving more attention to possessions or to remembering Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside two quiet minutes today to think of Kṛṣṇa rather than plans for acquiring more things.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTrue Renunciation Means Remembering KṛṣṇaThis 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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