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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
3.25.333.25.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.25.34

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

नैकात्मतां मे स्पृहयन्ति केचिन्

मत्पादसेवाभिरता मदीहा: ।

येऽन्योन्यतो भागवता: प्रसज्य

सभाजयन्ते मम पौरुषाणि ॥ ३४ ॥

naikātmatāṁ me spṛhayanti kecin

mat-pāda-sevābhiratā mad-īhāḥ

ye ’nyonyato bhāgavatāḥ prasajya

sabhājayante mama pauruṣāṇi

Translation

A pure devotee, who is attached to the activities of devotional service and who always engages in the service of My lotus feet, never desires to become one with Me. Such a devotee, who is unflinchingly engaged, always glorifies My pastimes and activities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Devotees Desire Service, Not Oneness

  1. 1

    A pure devotee does not aspire for any of the five kinds of liberation, especially merging into oneness. The greatest pleasure is to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Devotees continually think of ways to serve the Lord, even amid great material obstacles. They remain attached to glorifying His pastimes and activities.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s pastimes are historical facts and Absolute Truth, not imaginary stories. Pure devotees relish these transcendental activities, and their bhakti is beyond even the desire for liberation.

Key points from the purport
  • Pure devotees accept the narrations of the pastimes of the Lord not as stories but as Absolute Truth.
  • The Bhāgavatam is especially meant for the pure devotees, who always engage in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, in the activities of the Lord, and always glorify these transcendental activities.
  • Pure devotees worship the transcendental activities of the Lord in Vṛndāvana, Dvārakā and Mathurā as they are narrated in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and other Purāṇas.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.9.10

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.34): “A pure devotee, who is attached to the activities of devotional service and who always engages in the service of My lotus feet, never desires to become one with Me.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. nanever
  2. eka-ātmatāmmerging into oneness
  3. meMy
  4. spṛhayantithey desire
  5. kecitany
  6. mat-pāda-sevāthe service of My lotus feet
  7. abhiratāḥengaged in
  8. mat-īhāḥendeavoring to attain Me
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”, “bhakti”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attached”, “material”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “glorifies”, “glorifying”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What small opportunity to serve the Lord remains available amid my present difficulties?

Practice

Choose one description of the Lord’s activities from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and read it today with the intention of glorifying Him.

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 · 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 todayPure Devotees Desire Service, Not OnenessThis 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 3.25.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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