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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
3.25.213.25.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.25.22

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

मय्यनन्येन भावेन भक्तिं कुर्वन्ति ये द‍ृढाम् ।

मत्कृते त्यक्तकर्माणस्त्यक्तस्वजनबान्धवा: ॥ २२ ॥

mayy ananyena bhāvena

bhaktiṁ kurvanti ye dṛḍhām

mat-kṛte tyakta-karmāṇas

tyakta-svajana-bāndhavāḥ

Translation

Such a sādhu engages in staunch devotional service to the Lord without deviation. For the sake of the Lord he renounces all other connections, such as family relationships and friendly acquaintances within the world.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Renunciation Is Meant for the Lord’s Service

  1. 1

    A sādhu engages in staunch devotional service without deviation. His renunciation is for the sake of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Renunciation becomes successful only when one's energy is employed seriously in the Lord's service with great austerity. Giving things up alone is not the goal.

  3. 3

    One who gives up worldly obligations for the Supreme Lord's service is not punished for doing so. Giving them up for personal sense gratification, however, brings punishment by the law of nature.

Key points from the purport
  • A person in the renounced order of life, a sannyāsī, is also called a sādhu because he renounces everything — his home, his comfort, his friends, his relatives, and his duties to friends and family.
  • A person who seriously engages in the service of the Lord and is in the renounced order of life is a sādhu.
  • When he gives up all such obligations for the sake of the service of the Supreme Lord, he is not punished for such renunciation of obligation.

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. mayiunto Me
  2. ananyena bhāvenawith undeviated mind
  3. bhaktimdevotional service
  4. kurvantiperform
  5. yethose who
  6. dṛḍhāmstaunch
  7. mat-kṛtefor My sake
  8. tyaktarenounced
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “renounces”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “friendly”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When I want to give something up, is my purpose the Lord’s service or my own comfort?

Practice

Set aside one small personal comfort today and use that time for devotional service to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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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 todayRenunciation Is Meant for the Lord’s ServiceThis 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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