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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
3.25.163.25.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.25.17

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

तदा पुरुष आत्मानं केवलं प्रकृते: परम् ।

निरन्तरं स्वयंज्योतिरणिमानमखण्डितम् ॥ १७ ॥

tadā puruṣa ātmānaṁ

kevalaṁ prakṛteḥ param

nirantaraṁ svayaṁ-jyotir

aṇimānam akhaṇḍitam

Translation

At that time the soul can see himself to be transcendental to material existence and always self-effulgent, never fragmented, although very minute in size.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Soul Is Eternally Minute and Spiritual

  1. 1

    In pure consciousness, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the individual soul sees himself as transcendental to material existence. He is eternally part and parcel of the Supreme Lord.

  2. 2

    The soul is of the same spiritual quality as the Supreme Lord, but not equal in extent. The Supreme Spirit is infinite, while the individual soul is infinitesimal.

  3. 3

    The soul is not a broken fragment of a once-undivided spirit. He is constitutionally and eternally a minute part, as the sun’s rays share the sun’s brilliant nature without being as expansive as the sun.

Key points from the purport
  • One should not think that because the individual soul is a particle, it is fragmented from the whole spirit.
  • The Supreme Spirit is infinite, but the living entity, or the individual soul, is infinitesimal, although it is not different in quality from the Supreme Spirit.
  • The Supreme Spirit is all-pervading, but the very small spirit is the individual soul.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tadāthen
  2. puruṣaḥthe individual soul
  3. ātmānamhimself
  4. kevalampure
  5. prakṛteḥ paramtranscendental to material existence
  6. nirantaramnondifferent
  7. svayam-jyotiḥself-effulgent
  8. aṇimānaminfinitesimal
  9. akhaṇḍitamnot fragmented
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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: “material”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does being spiritually one in quality, yet infinitesimal, shape my understanding of my relationship with the Lord?

Practice

Reflect for one minute on this statement: “I am eternally a minute spiritual part of the Supreme Lord, not the infinite whole.”

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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 todayThe Soul Is Eternally Minute and SpiritualThis 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 3.25.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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