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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 26: Fundamental Principles of Material Nature
3.26.713.27.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.26.72

Mukti· Liberation
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

तमस्मिन्प्रत्यगात्मानं धिया योगप्रवृत्तया ।

भक्त्या विरक्त्या ज्ञानेन विविच्यात्मनि चिन्तयेत् ॥ ७२ ॥

tam asmin pratyag-ātmānaṁ

dhiyā yoga-pravṛttayā

bhaktyā viraktyā jñānena

vivicyātmani cintayet

Translation

Therefore, through devotion, detachment and advancement in spiritual knowledge acquired through concentrated devotional service, one should contemplate that Supersoul as present in this very body although simultaneously apart from it.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sāṅkhya Reaches Perfection in Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The Supersoul is present within the body but is transcendental to it. Unlike the individual soul, He has no attachment to the body.

  2. 2

    Pure devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead brings detachment from the material world. Freedom from material attraction allows the mind to concentrate upon the Supersoul and attain spiritual knowledge.

  3. 3

    Devotional service brings joy and enables one to understand the science of God, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The perfection of sāṅkhya-yoga is devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore one has to detach himself from this material body, by discharging devotional service.
  • When one is detached from the attraction of material prosperity, one can actually concentrate his mind upon the Supersoul.
  • One who is freed from material contamination is joyful and can enter into devotional service, and by devotional service he can be liberated.

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

The purport of SB 3.26.72 quotesSB 1.2.7

As it is stated in the First Canto, Second Chapter, of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.7), vāsudeve bhagavati bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ.

The purport of SB 3.26.72 quotesBG 18.54

This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (18.54).

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 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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamupon Him
  2. asminin this
  3. pratyak-ātmānamthe Supersoul
  4. dhiyāwith the mind
  5. yoga-pravṛttayāengaged in devotional service
  6. bhaktyāthrough devotion
  7. viraktyāthrough detachment
  8. jñānenathrough spiritual knowledge
3

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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 3.26

    In this verse: “detachment”

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 material attraction distracts my mind from devotional service and contemplation of the Supersoul?

Practice

Put aside one material distraction for a few minutes and, in a devotional spirit, contemplate the Supersoul as present within your body yet apart from it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

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

The purport quotesSB 1.2.7

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.26's connections

Live this todaySāṅkhya Reaches Perfection in 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 3.26.72? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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