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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 3.27.10

Who is speaking and story frame

निवृत्तबुद्ध्यवस्थानो दूरीभूतान्यदर्शन: ।

उपलभ्यात्मनात्मानं चक्षुषेवार्कमात्मद‍ृक् ॥ १० ॥

nivṛtta-buddhy-avasthāno

dūrī-bhūtānya-darśanaḥ

upalabhyātmanātmānaṁ

cakṣuṣevārkam ātma-dṛk

Translation

One should be situated in the transcendental position, beyond the stages of material consciousness, and should be aloof from all other conceptions of life. Thus realizing freedom from false ego, one should see his own self just as he sees the sun in the sky.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Purified Vision Leads to Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Material consciousness acts in waking, sleep, and deep sleep. Kṛṣṇa consciousness goes beyond these stages and centers on Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    A perfect devotee sees Kṛṣṇa’s energy acting in everything and remembers His personal form. Freed from bodily identification, the devotee sees himself as the Lord’s eternal servitor.

  3. 3

    The senses need not stop acting; false identification with the body must be removed. With purified senses, one can actually discharge devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • To become Kṛṣṇa conscious, one has to become transcendental to these three stages of consciousness.
  • Our present consciousness should be freed from all perceptions of life other than consciousness of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Cakṣuṣevārkam: as we can see the sun without a doubt, one who is fully developed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness sees Kṛṣṇa and His energy.

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 27: Understanding Material Nature

Kapila explains how hearing, chanting, knowledge, and devotional service free the soul from material nature.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.27
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nivṛttatranscended
  2. buddhi-avasthānaḥthe stages of material consciousness
  3. dūrī-bhūtafar off
  4. anyaother
  5. darśanaḥconceptions of life
  6. upalabhyahaving realized
  7. ātmanāby his purified intellect
  8. ātmānamhis own self
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.27

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.27

    In this verse: “material”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 3.27

    In this verse: “false ego”

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

How could recognizing Kṛṣṇa’s energy in what I see help me remember Him?

Practice

Look at one object around you and take a moment to remember Kṛṣṇa, whose energy is acting in it.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPurified Vision Leads to 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 3.27.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.