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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
3.25.283.25.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.25.29

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Devahūtisince 3.25.28inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

यो योगो भगवद्बाणो निर्वाणात्मंस्त्वयोदित: ।

कीद‍ृश: कति चाङ्गानि यतस्तत्त्वावबोधनम् ॥ २९ ॥

yo yogo bhagavad-bāṇo

nirvāṇātmaṁs tvayoditaḥ

kīdṛśaḥ kati cāṅgāni

yatas tattvāvabodhanam

Translation

The mystic yoga system, as You have explained, aims at the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is meant for completely ending material existence. Please let me know the nature of that yoga system. How many ways are there by which one can understand in truth that sublime yoga?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Bhakti-yoga Aims Directly at the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Jñāna-yoga aims at impersonal Brahman, and haṭha-yoga aims at Paramātmā. Bhakti-yoga aims at complete realization of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Devotional service has nine forms, beginning with hearing and chanting and extending to surrendering everything for the Lord’s service. Like a sharp arrow, bhakti-yoga goes directly to the Supreme Lord.

  3. 3

    Nirvāṇa means ending material existence, not ending the soul’s existence. Devotees who attain the Supreme Personality of Godhead do not return to accept a material body.

Key points from the purport
  • The jñāna-yoga system aims at the impersonal Brahman effulgence, and the haṭha-yoga system aims at the localized personal aspect, the Paramātmā feature of the Absolute Truth, whereas bhakti-yoga, or devotional service, which is executed in nine different ways, headed by hearing and chanting, aims at complete realization of the Supreme Lord.
  • But bhakti-yogīs, once approaching the Supreme Personality of Godhead, never come back to this material world, as it is confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā.
  • The bhakti-yoga system is just like an arrow aiming up to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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. yaḥwhich
  2. yogaḥmystic yoga process
  3. bhagavat-bāṇaḥaiming at the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. nirvāṇa-ātmanO embodiment of nirvāṇa
  5. tvayāby You
  6. uditaḥexplained
  7. kīdṛśaḥof what nature
  8. katihow many
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I keep service to the Supreme Lord as the aim of my spiritual practice?

Practice

Offer one brief prayer to the Lord today, asking to engage in His 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.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayBhakti-yoga Aims Directly at the Supreme LordThis 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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