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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
3.24.363.24.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.24.37

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kapilasince 3.24.35inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

एष आत्मपथोऽव्यक्तो नष्ट: कालेन भूयसा ।

तं प्रवर्तयितुं देहमिमं विद्धि मया भृतम् ॥ ३७ ॥

eṣa ātma-patho ’vyakto

naṣṭaḥ kālena bhūyasā

taṁ pravartayituṁ deham

imaṁ viddhi mayā bhṛtam

Translation

This path of self-realization, which is difficult to understand, has now been lost in the course of time. Please know that I have assumed this body of Kapila to introduce and explain this philosophy to human society again.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Restores Our Eternal Occupation

  1. 1

    Sāṅkhya philosophy is factual knowledge, not a new theory produced by mental speculation. Kapila appeared to restore a path of self-realization that had been lost over time.

  2. 2

    Knowledge can become covered or lost in the material world. Just as Kṛṣṇa again taught the ancient yoga system to Arjuna, Kapila reintroduced Sāṅkhya philosophy.

  3. 3

    The Lord comes when living entities forget their eternal relationship with Him. He restores their real occupation—devotional service—and explains how to leave the misery of material life.

Key points from the purport
  • Sa kāleneha mahatā yogo naṣṭaḥ: “In course of time the yoga system as stated in Bhagavad-gītā was lost.”
  • The time factor is so pressing that in the course of time everything within this material world is spoiled or lost.
  • Similarly, Kapila also said that the system of Sāṅkhya philosophy was not exactly being introduced by Him; it was already current, but in course of time it was mysteriously lost, and therefore He appeared to reintroduce it.

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. eṣaḥthis
  2. ātma-pathaḥpath of self-realization
  3. avyaktaḥdifficult to be known
  4. naṣṭaḥlost
  5. kālena bhūyasāin the course of time
  6. tamthis
  7. pravartayitumto introduce again
  8. dehambody
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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: “philosophy”, “understand”, “knowledge”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.24

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • 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

Do I approach spiritual knowledge to find new theories or to recover my relationship with the Lord?

Practice

Reread one teaching from this verse today with the intention of understanding devotional service as your eternal occupation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Restores Our Eternal OccupationThis 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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