1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 3 · Chapter 25: The Glories of Devotional Service
3.25.93.25.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.25.10

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Devahūtisince 3.25.7inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

अथ मे देव सम्मोहमपाक्रष्टुं त्वमर्हसि ।

योऽवग्रहोऽहंममेतीत्येतस्मिन् योजितस्त्वया ॥ १० ॥

atha me deva sammoham

apākraṣṭuṁ tvam arhasi

yo ’vagraho ’haṁ mametīty

etasmin yojitas tvayā

Translation

Now be pleased, my Lord, to dispel my great delusion. Due to my feeling of false ego, I have been engaged by Your māyā and have identified myself with the body and consequent bodily relations.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Surrender Frees Us From False Identification

  1. 1

    False ego means identifying the body as oneself and claiming bodily possessions as “mine.” Forgetting our eternal service to the Lord and seeking sense gratification brings us under māyā.

  2. 2

    The Lord does not unfairly choose who serves Him and who forgets Him. Through His material potency, He allows the living entity the enjoyment and forgetfulness it desires.

  3. 3

    When we sincerely surrender to the Lord, He kindly frees us from entanglement. Devahūti therefore asked Him to remove false identification and attachment, restoring the relationship of service rather than enjoyment.

Key points from the purport
  • Devahūti has stated that false identification of the body with the self and attachment for possessions in relation to the body are also under the direction of the Lord.
  • Therefore, since the material potency is the Lord’s energy, indirectly it is the Lord who gives the facility to forget Him.
  • Everything done here is done in the modes of material nature, and therefore all activities but service to the Lord are sinful.

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. athanow
  2. memy
  3. devaO Lord
  4. sammohamdelusion
  5. apākraṣṭumto dispel
  6. tvamYou
  7. arhasibe pleased
  8. yaḥwhich
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “māyā”, “attachment”, “sense gratification”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “false ego”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “surrender”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What attachment to “I” and “mine” makes it harder for me to remember my relationship of service to the Lord?

Practice

Offer a brief, sincere prayer asking Kṛṣṇa to free you from one specific attachment and help you serve Him.

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 · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 other lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todaySurrender Frees Us From False IdentificationThis 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 3.25.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories