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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 25: The Glories of Devotional Service
3.24.473.25.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.25.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śaunaka Ṛṣisince 3.25.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

शौनक उवाच

कपिलस्तत्त्वसंख्याता भगवानात्ममायया ।

जात: स्वयमज: साक्षादात्मप्रज्ञप्तये नृणाम् ॥ १ ॥

śaunaka uvāca

kapilas tattva-saṅkhyātā

bhagavān ātma-māyayā

jātaḥ svayam ajaḥ sākṣād

ātma-prajñaptaye nṛṇām

Translation

Śrī Śaunaka said: Although He is unborn, the Supreme Personality of Godhead took birth as Kapila Muni by His internal potency. He descended to disseminate transcendental knowledge for the benefit of the whole human race.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Human Life Is Meant for Transcendental Knowledge

  1. 1

    Although unborn, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared as Kapila by His internal potency. He came to give transcendental knowledge for the benefit of humanity.

  2. 2

    The Vedas elevate one from ignorance to goodness, where knowledge of the self can be understood. Regulated human life makes this understanding possible.

  3. 3

    Knowing that we are spirit soul, not matter, is not sufficient; we must also understand our spiritual activities. This knowledge comes through disciplic succession from the Lord or His bona fide devotee.

Key points from the purport
  • Śaunaka Muni also states here that Kapila, the incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, took birth, or appeared, simply to appreciate and disseminate transcendental knowledge.
  • Knowledge of those activities is explained by the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.
  • In regulated life only can one understand transcendental knowledge.

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

Entanglement → Insight and liberation. Inquiry matures into instruction in devotion and spiritual nature.

Chapters 25–33 of Canto 3: Kapila instructs Devahūti. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 25: The Glories of Devotional Service

Kapila teaches Devahūti the glories of devotional service, association with devotees, and freedom from material attachment.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.25
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śaunakaḥ uvācaŚrī Śaunaka said
  2. kapilaḥLord Kapila
  3. tattvaof the truth
  4. saṅkhyātāthe expounder
  5. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. ātma-māyayāby His internal potency
  7. jātaḥtook birth
  8. svayamHimself
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “spirit soul”, “understanding”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “devotee”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How could a more regulated daily life help me make room for spiritual understanding?

Practice

Set aside a fixed time today to study Kapila’s teachings without distraction.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayHuman Life Is Meant for Transcendental KnowledgeThis 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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