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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 26: Fundamental Principles of Material Nature
3.26.303.26.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.26.31

Sarga· Creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 3.26.10inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

तैजसानीन्द्रियाण्येव क्रियाज्ञानविभागश: ।

प्राणस्य हि क्रियाशक्तिर्बुद्धेर्विज्ञानशक्तिता ॥ ३१ ॥

taijasānīndriyāṇy eva

kriyā-jñāna-vibhāgaśaḥ

prāṇasya hi kriyā-śaktir

buddher vijñāna-śaktitā

Translation

Egoism in the mode of passion produces two kinds of senses: the senses for acquiring knowledge and the senses of action. The senses of action depend on the vital energy, and the senses for acquiring knowledge depend on intelligence.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Purify Desire Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Both the senses for acquiring knowledge and the senses of action arise from egoism in passion. The senses of action depend on vital energy, while those for acquiring knowledge depend on intelligence.

  2. 2

    Desire cannot be stopped, but it can be purified by turning toward pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This purification begins under the direction of the spiritual master.

  3. 3

    Material possessions do not measure spiritual wealth. Engaging purified senses in the Lord's service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is pure devotion.

Key points from the purport
  • That is the distinction between mind and intelligence: mind is a product of egoism in goodness, and intelligence is a product of egoism in passion.
  • In this verse it is clear that both kinds of senses, the senses for acquiring knowledge and the senses for action, are products of egoism in the mode of passion.
  • And because the sense organs for activity and for acquiring knowledge require energy, the vital energy, or life energy, is also produced by egoism in the mode of passion.

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 26: Fundamental Principles of Material Nature

Kapila explains material nature, consciousness, time, the elements, and the manifestation of the universal form.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.26
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. taijasāniproduced from egoism in the mode of passion
  2. indriyāṇithe senses
  3. evacertainly
  4. kriyāaction
  5. jñānaknowledge
  6. vibhāgaśaḥaccording to
  7. prāṇasyaof the vital energy
  8. hiindeed
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sarga · The creation of the universe

    Where does the universe come from? · Subject 1 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.26

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.26

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.26

    In this verse: “devotion”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which desire could I redirect from material control toward pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Practice

Identify one desire today and write down how it could be directed toward devotional service.

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 Desire 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.

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