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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
3.25.353.25.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.25.36

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

तैर्दर्शनीयावयवैरुदार-

विलासहासेक्षितवामसूक्तै: ।

हृतात्मनो हृतप्राणांश्च भक्ति-

रनिच्छतो मे गतिमण्वीं प्रयुङ्क्ते‍ ॥ ३६ ॥

tair darśanīyāvayavair udāra-

vilāsa-hāsekṣita-vāma-sūktaiḥ

hṛtātmano hṛta-prāṇāṁś ca bhaktir

anicchato me gatim aṇvīṁ prayuṅkte

Translation

Upon seeing the charming forms of the Lord, smiling and attractive, and hearing His very pleasing words, the pure devotee almost loses all other consciousness. His senses are freed from all other engagements, and he becomes absorbed in devotional service. Thus in spite of his unwillingness, he attains liberation without separate endeavor.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Brings Liberation Without Separate Endeavor

  1. 1

    By engaging the senses in the Lord’s service and becoming absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one is imperceptibly liberated. Liberation does not require a separate endeavor.

  2. 2

    The living entity is eternally a servitor of the Lord; forgetting this position is māyā. Even a beginner without advanced knowledge becomes liberated through sincere devotional worship.

  3. 3

    Along with seeing the decorated Deity, devotees should hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā or similar literature. Hearing about the Lord’s form, activities and transcendental nature helps keep the mind absorbed in Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Even the third-class devotee — who is not advanced in knowledge of the Absolute Truth but simply offers obeisances with great devotion, thinks of the Lord, sees the Lord in the temple and brings forth flowers and fruits to offer to the Deity — becomes imperceptibly liberated.
  • The Deities of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, Lakṣmī and Nārāyaṇa, and Rāma and Sītā are very attractive to devotees, so much so that when they see the statue decorated in the temple of the Lord they become fully absorbed in thought of the Lord.
  • Even third-class devotees who have no literary knowledge or no time to read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam or Bhagavad-gītā get the opportunity to hear about the pastimes of the Lord.

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. taiḥby those forms
  2. darśanīyacharming
  3. avayavaiḥwhose limbs
  4. udāraexalted
  5. vilāsapastimes
  6. hāsasmiling
  7. īkṣitaglances
  8. vāmapleasing
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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”, “devotee”, “devotional”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I engage my senses in the Lord’s service rather than let them remain absorbed in other engagements?

Practice

Spend five minutes today hearing a recitation of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, attending carefully to what it teaches about the Lord.

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.

7

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.25's connections

Live this todayDevotional Service Brings Liberation Without Separate EndeavorThis 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 3.25.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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