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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
3.25.313.25.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.25.32

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kapilasince 3.25.32inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

श्रीभगवानुवाच

देवानां गुणलिङ्गानामानुश्रविककर्मणाम् ।

सत्त्व एवैकमनसो वृत्ति: स्वाभाविकी तु या ।

अनिमित्ता भागवती भक्ति: सिद्धेर्गरीयसी ॥ ३२ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

devānāṁ guṇa-liṅgānām

ānuśravika-karmaṇām

sattva evaika-manaso

vṛttiḥ svābhāvikī tu yā

animittā bhāgavatī

bhaktiḥ siddher garīyasī

Translation

Lord Kapila said: The senses are symbolic representations of the demigods, and their natural inclination is to work under the direction of the Vedic injunctions. As the senses are representatives of the demigods, so the mind is the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The mind’s natural duty is to serve. When that service spirit is engaged in devotional service to the Personality of Godhead, without any motive, that is far better even than salvation.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Selfless Service Is Greater Than Liberation

  1. 1

    The senses are naturally active, and the mind leads them. They are in their natural position when their service is directed toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The Lord is Hṛṣīkeśa, the proprietor and ultimate master of the senses. Bhakti means engaging the senses in His service without desire for material profit or other selfish motives.

  3. 3

    When the mind is fully engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness without selfish motive, that service is better than liberation. Devotional service, not merely freedom from material entanglement, is the goal.

Key points from the purport
  • When the service is ultimately aimed at the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the senses are in their natural position.
  • The senses and the mind are naturally inclined to work, but when they are materially contaminated they work for some material benefit or for the service of the demigods, although actually they are meant to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • The conclusion is that when the mind, without being deviated either by Vedic injunctions or by material activities, is fully engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, or devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is far better than the most aspired-for liberation from material entanglement.

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. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Personality of Godhead said
  2. devānāmof the senses or of the presiding deities of the senses
  3. guṇa-liṅgānāmwhich detect sense objects
  4. ānuśravikaaccording to scripture
  5. karmaṇāmwhich work
  6. sattveunto the mind or unto the Lord
  7. evaonly
  8. eka-manasaḥof a man of undivided mind
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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”, “bhakti”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “duty”

  • 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

What reward am I hoping for in my service, and can I serve without asking for it?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and resolve to do it for the Lord rather than for personal reward.

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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 todaySelfless Service Is Greater Than LiberationThis 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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