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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
3.24.443.24.46

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.24.45

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.24.41inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

वासुदेवे भगवति सर्वज्ञे प्रत्यगात्मनि ।

परेण भक्तिभावेन लब्धात्मा मुक्तबन्धन: ॥ ४५ ॥

vāsudeve bhagavati

sarva-jñe pratyag-ātmani

pareṇa bhakti-bhāvena

labdhātmā mukta-bandhanaḥ

Translation

He thus became liberated from conditioned life and became self-situated in transcendental devotional service to the Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, the omniscient Supersoul within everyone.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Self-Realization Means Eternal Service

  1. 1

    Self-realization means knowing oneself as an eternal servant of Vāsudeva. The individual soul can become conditioned, but the Supreme Soul never does; they are not equal in every respect.

  2. 2

    Parā bhakti is devotional service free from material contamination, grounded in awareness of one's eternal service to the Lord. Service performed for material gain remains contaminated.

  3. 3

    The Supersoul within the heart knows all our activities, even those we have forgotten. Forgetting past actions does not free us from their reactions.

Key points from the purport
  • When one engages in the transcendental devotional service of the Lord one becomes aware that his constitutional position, as an individual soul, is to be eternally a servitor of the Supreme Lord, Vāsudeva.
  • The individual soul is prone to be conditioned, and the Supreme Soul is never conditioned.
  • Material contamination continues as long as one thinks that he is as good as the Supreme Lord or is equal with Him.

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. vāsudeveto Vāsudeva
  2. bhagavatithe Personality of Godhead
  3. sarva-jñeomniscient
  4. pratyak-ātmanithe Supersoul within everyone
  5. pareṇatranscendental
  6. bhakti-bhāvenaby devotional service
  7. labdha-ātmābeing situated in himself
  8. mukta-bandhanaḥliberated from material bondage
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: “devotional service”, “bhakti”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “free from”

  • 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 seek to serve the Lord for His sake, or mainly for material gain?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, remind yourself: “I am an eternal servant of the Lord,” and set aside any request for material reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySelf-Realization Means Eternal ServiceThis 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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