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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.25.38

Who is speaking and story frame

न कर्हिचिन्मत्परा: शान्तरूपे

नङ्‍क्ष्यन्ति नो मेऽनिमिषो लेढि हेति: ।

येषामहं प्रिय आत्मा सुतश्च

सखा गुरु: सुहृदो दैवमिष्टम् ॥ ३८ ॥

na karhicin mat-parāḥ śānta-rūpe

naṅkṣyanti no me ’nimiṣo leḍhi hetiḥ

yeṣām ahaṁ priya ātmā sutaś ca

sakhā guruḥ suhṛdo daivam iṣṭam

Translation

The Lord continued: My dear mother, devotees who receive such transcendental opulences are never bereft of them; neither weapons nor the change of time can destroy such opulences. Because the devotees accept Me as their friend, their relative, their son, preceptor, benefactor and Supreme Deity, they cannot be deprived of their possessions at any time.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Relationships With Kṛṣṇa Never End

  1. 1

    Enjoyment on the higher planets is temporary, but the achievement of devotional service and its spiritual opulences are never destroyed. Once one is fixed in the Lord’s service, the pleasure and service increase without limit.

  2. 2

    Devotees accept the Supreme Personality of Godhead as their dearmost friend, relative, son, preceptor, well-wisher or Deity. Because the Lord is eternal, these loving relationships are also eternal.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa should be accepted as the supreme spiritual master and best friend, together with His confidential devotees as preceptors. His teachings in Bhagavad-gītā never change, and He never cheats those who take shelter of Him.

Key points from the purport
  • In the material world the knowledge which we acquire may change because of the influence of time, but nevertheless the conclusions received from Bhagavad-gītā, directly from the speeches of the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, can never change.
  • Therefore those who accept Kṛṣṇa, or the Supreme Lord, as their son will never be bereft of their son.
  • The conclusion is that the time influence cannot act upon devotees who have accepted the Supreme Personality of Godhead as everything.

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· 2

Quoted in the purport ofSB 7.6.2

As stated by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, yeṣām ahaṁ priya ātmā sutaś ca sakhā guruḥ suhṛdo daivam iṣṭam.

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 22.162

This was spoken by Kapiladeva to His mother Devahūti and is recorded in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.38).

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. karhicitever
  3. mat-parāḥMy devotees
  4. śānta-rūpeO mother
  5. naṅkṣyantiwill lose
  6. nonot
  7. meMy
  8. animiṣaḥtime
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional service”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “mother”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can accepting Kṛṣṇa as my best friend and supreme teacher guide my choices today?

Practice

Read a short passage from Bhagavad-gītā today, receiving Kṛṣṇa’s words as the guidance of your supreme teacher and well-wisher.

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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 todayLoving Relationships With Kṛṣṇa Never EndThis 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 3.25.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.