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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
3.25.63.25.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.25.7

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Devahūtisince 3.25.7inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti
A turning point forDevahūti· Asking the essential question

देवहूतिरुवाच

निर्विण्णा नितरां भूमन्नसदिन्द्रियतर्षणात् ।

येन सम्भाव्यमानेन प्रपन्नान्धं तम: प्रभो ॥ ७ ॥

devahūtir uvāca

nirviṇṇā nitarāṁ bhūmann

asad-indriya-tarṣaṇāt

yena sambhāvyamānena

prapannāndhaṁ tamaḥ prabho

Translation

Devahūti said: I am very sick of the disturbance caused by my material senses, for because of this sense disturbance, my Lord, I have fallen into the abyss of ignorance.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Purify the Senses Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The material senses are temporary, and their engagements change as the living being moves through different bodies. Devahūti recognized that their agitation had brought her into ignorance.

  2. 2

    Beyond these temporary senses are permanent senses, now covered by matter. Devotional service frees them from contamination so they can act in pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  3. 3

    Eternal sensory activities are devotional service; temporary sensory activities are sense gratification. Becoming tired of sense gratification opens the opportunity to hear transcendental instructions.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus asad-indriya-tarṣaṇāt means “from being agitated by the temporarily manifest senses of the material body.”
  • We should know that beyond these temporary senses are our permanent senses, which are now covered by the material body.
  • Devotional service therefore involves freeing the senses from this contamination.

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 11.7.21

“I am very sick of the disturbance caused by my material senses, for because of this sense disturbance, my Lord, I have fallen into the abyss of ignorance.”

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. devahūtiḥ uvācaDevahūti said
  2. nirviṇṇādisgusted
  3. nitarāmvery
  4. bhūmanO my Lord
  5. asatimpermanent
  6. indriyaof the senses
  7. tarṣaṇātfrom agitation
  8. yenaby which
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “sense gratification”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “contamination”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which sensory demand disturbs me, and how could I turn toward hearing spiritual instruction instead?

Practice

Replace a few minutes of one distracting sensory habit with attentive reading of Lord Kapila’s teachings.

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.

Live this todayPurify the Senses Through Devotional ServiceThis 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 3.25.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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