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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 25: The Glories of Devotional Service
3.25.43.25.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.25.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.25.5inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

पितरि प्रस्थितेऽरण्यं मातु: प्रियचिकीर्षया ।

तस्मिन् बिन्दुसरेऽवात्सीद्भगवान् कपिल: किल ॥ ५ ॥

maitreya uvāca

pitari prasthite ’raṇyaṁ

mātuḥ priya-cikīrṣayā

tasmin bindusare ’vātsīd

bhagavān kapilaḥ kila

Translation

Maitreya said: When Kardama left for the forest, Lord Kapila stayed on the strand of the Bindu-sarovara to please His mother, Devahūti.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Care for Family Without Lifelong Entanglement

  1. 1

    After Kardama left for the forest, Lord Kapila remained at Bindu-sarovara to please His mother, Devahūti.

  2. 2

    In the Vedic household system, a grown son takes charge of his mother in his father’s absence. He serves her to the best of his ability.

  3. 3

    The husband should leave household life when a grown son can take responsibility for the family. One should not remain continually entangled in household affairs until death.

Key points from the purport
  • That is the Vedic system of household life.
  • One should not remain continually implicated in household affairs up to the time of death.
  • Family affairs and the wife may be taken charge of by a grown son.

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. maitreyaḥ uvācaMaitreya said
  2. pitariwhen the father
  3. prasthiteleft
  4. araṇyamfor the forest
  5. mātuḥHis mother
  6. priya-cikīrṣayāwith a desire to please
  7. tasminon that
  8. bindusareLake Bindu-sarovara
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “mother”, “father’s”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “household”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “death”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I fulfill family responsibilities while remembering that household affairs are not life’s final purpose?

Practice

If possible, offer your mother one concrete act of care today, such as helping with a task.

5

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 todayCare for Family Without Lifelong EntanglementThis 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 3.25.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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