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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 3 · Chapter 25: The Glories of Devotional Service
3.25.133.25.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.25.14

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

तमिमं ते प्रवक्ष्यामि यमवोचं पुरानघे ।

ऋषीणां श्रोतुकामानां योगं सर्वाङ्गनैपुणम् ॥ १४ ॥

tam imaṁ te pravakṣyāmi

yam avocaṁ purānaghe

ṛṣīṇāṁ śrotu-kāmānāṁ

yogaṁ sarvāṅga-naipuṇam

Translation

O most pious mother, I shall now explain unto you the ancient yoga system, which I explained formerly to the great sages. It is serviceable and practical in every way.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Receive the Ancient, Practical Yoga System

  1. 1

    Lord Kapila offers to explain the ancient yoga system He previously taught to the great sages. He describes it as serviceable and practical in every way.

  2. 2

    Although Kapila Muni is the Lord Himself, He does not manufacture a new doctrine. He teaches the established system to His mother.

  3. 3

    A superexcellent process already exists in Vedic scriptures. There is no need to reject it or invent a new yoga system that misleads people.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord does not manufacture a new system of yoga.
  • But here we find that although Kapila Muni is the Lord Himself and is capable of manufacturing a new doctrine for His mother, He nevertheless says, “I shall just explain the ancient system which I once explained to the great sages because they were also anxious to hear about it.”
  • At present it has become a fashion to reject the standard system and present something bogus in the name of a newly invented process of yoga.

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. tam imamthat very
  2. teto you
  3. pravakṣyāmiI shall explain
  4. yamwhich
  5. avocamI explained
  6. purāformerly
  7. anagheO pious mother
  8. ṛṣīṇāmto the sages
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “mother”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I value an established spiritual teaching for its truth, or mainly seek something new?

Practice

Spend five minutes carefully rereading Lord Kapila’s teaching here rather than searching for a newly invented process.

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 todayReceive the Ancient, Practical Yoga SystemThis 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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