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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
3.24.373.24.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.24.38

Mukti· Liberation
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

गच्छ कामं मयापृष्टो मयि संन्यस्तकर्मणा ।

जित्वा सुदुर्जयं मृत्युममृतत्वाय मां भज ॥ ३८ ॥

gaccha kāmaṁ mayāpṛṣṭo

mayi sannyasta-karmaṇā

jitvā sudurjayaṁ mṛtyum

amṛtatvāya māṁ bhaja

Translation

Now, being sanctioned by Me, go as you desire, surrendering all your activities to Me. Conquering insurmountable death, worship Me for eternal life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Leads to Eternal Life

  1. 1

    The Lord authorizes Kardama to depart while surrendering all his activities to Him. He directs Kardama to worship Him for eternal life.

  2. 2

    Birth and death belong to the temporary material body and are very difficult to overcome. Human life is meant for conquering this process through devotional service, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  3. 3

    Sāṅkhya is factual knowledge that frees one from material entanglement. Without Kṛṣṇa’s mercy, no one can understand this philosophy meant for liberation.

Key points from the purport
  • Birth and death are natural to this material body.
  • Therefore they set aside the question of birth and death; they do not consider it.
  • Actually, human life is meant for conquering the insurmountable process of birth and death.

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. gacchago
  2. kāmamas you wish
  3. mayāby Me
  4. āpṛṣṭaḥsanctioned
  5. mayito Me
  6. sannyastacompletely surrendered
  7. karmaṇāwith your activities
  8. jitvāhaving conquered
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”, “devotional service”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.24

    In this verse: “death”

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

What activity can I consciously surrender to Kṛṣṇa today?

Practice

Before one task today, offer a brief prayer asking to perform it in Kṛṣṇa’s service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Leads to Eternal LifeThis 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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