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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
3.25.123.25.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.25.13

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Personality of Godheadsince 3.25.13inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

श्रीभगवानुवाच

योग आध्यात्मिक: पुंसां मतो नि:श्रेयसाय मे ।

अत्यन्तोपरतिर्यत्र दु:खस्य च सुखस्य च ॥ १३ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

yoga ādhyātmikaḥ puṁsāṁ

mato niḥśreyasāya me

atyantoparatir yatra

duḥkhasya ca sukhasya ca

Translation

The Personality of Godhead answered: The yoga system which relates to the Lord and the individual soul, which is meant for the ultimate benefit of the living entity, and which causes detachment from all happiness and distress in the material world, is the highest yoga system.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Bhakti-yoga Transcends Material Happiness and Distress

  1. 1

    Material happiness is always mixed with distress. Even an enjoyable result requires trouble and is followed by further distress.

  2. 2

    The highest yoga relates the individual soul to the Lord and serves the living entity’s ultimate benefit. Kṛṣṇa teaches bhakti-yoga as the best yoga.

  3. 3

    Yoga is the science of the spirit, meant to bring perfection on the spiritual platform. Its goal is beyond material happiness and distress, not a better arrangement of material pleasure.

Key points from the purport
  • In the material world, everyone is trying to get some material happiness, but as soon as we get some material happiness, there is also material distress.
  • The yoga system, as here stated by the Lord, is meant to end all material happiness and material distress.
  • It is also mentioned in the Gītā that one should try to be tolerant and not be disturbed by material happiness or distress.

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. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Personality of Godhead said
  2. yogaḥthe yoga system
  3. ādhyātmikaḥrelating to the soul
  4. puṁsāmof living entities
  5. mataḥis approved
  6. niḥśreyasāyafor the ultimate benefit
  7. meby Me
  8. atyantacomplete
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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “detachment”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “distress”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking only material comfort, or a relationship with the Lord beyond happiness and distress?

Practice

When a pleasure or difficulty arises today, pause and practice tolerating it without letting it turn you away from devotional service.

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.

2 lectures 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 todayBhakti-yoga Transcends Material Happiness and DistressThis 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 3.25.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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