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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
3.24.43.24.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.24.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.24.5inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

देवहूत्यपि संदेशं गौरवेण प्रजापते: ।

सम्यक् श्रद्धाय पुरुषं कूटस्थमभजद्गुरुम् ॥ ५ ॥

maitreya uvāca

devahūty api sandeśaṁ

gauraveṇa prajāpateḥ

samyak śraddhāya puruṣaṁ

kūṭa-stham abhajad gurum

Translation

Śrī Maitreya said: Devahūti was fully faithful and respectful toward the direction of her husband, Kardama, who was one of the Prajāpatis, or generators of human beings in the universe. O great sage, she thus began to worship the master of the universe, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in everyone’s heart.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Receive Spiritual Guidance with Faith

  1. 1

    Spiritual realization begins with instruction from a bona fide spiritual master. By teaching Devahūti how to achieve spiritual perfection, Kardama became her spiritual master as well as her husband.

  2. 2

    One should receive spiritual knowledge and carry out service with great faith, accepting the spiritual master’s instruction as one’s life and soul.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is already situated in everyone’s heart. Pleased by a devotee’s worship, He appears by His internal potency, not as an ordinary child.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śiva also is the spiritual master of his consort, Pārvatī.
  • One should accept the instruction of the spiritual master as one’s life and soul.
  • Whether one is liberated or not liberated, one should execute the instruction of the spiritual master with great faith.

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. maitreyaḥ uvācaMaitreya said
  2. devahūtīDevahūti
  3. apialso
  4. sandeśamthe direction
  5. gauraveṇawith great respect
  6. prajāpateḥof Kardama
  7. samyakcomplete
  8. śraddhāyahaving faith in
3

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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”, “devotee’s”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “child”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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 can I put spiritual instruction into practice rather than merely admire it?

Practice

Spend a few attentive minutes worshiping the Lord, remembering that He is situated in your heart.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReceive Spiritual Guidance with FaithThis 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.24.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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