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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.27.20
क्वचित्तत्त्वावमर्शेन निवृत्तं भयमुल्बणम् ।
अनिवृत्तनिमित्तत्वात्पुन: प्रत्यवतिष्ठते ॥ २० ॥
kvacit tattvāvamarśena
nivṛttaṁ bhayam ulbaṇam
anivṛtta-nimittatvāt
punaḥ pratyavatiṣṭhate
Even if the great fear of bondage is avoided by mental speculation and inquiry into the fundamental principles, it may still appear again, since its cause has not ceased.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioThree study points drawn from the translation and purport.
The desire to lord it over material nature and envy of Kṛṣṇa are the beginning causes of material bondage. As long as these remain, theoretical knowledge does not bring actual freedom.
Mental speculation may temporarily lessen the fear of bondage, but that fear can return because its cause has not ceased. Theoretical freedom and actual freedom are very different.
Knowledge reaches fulfillment when one surrenders to the Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa. Giving up devotional service for speculation alone is compared to husking empty paddy: there is labor but no grain.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.
The purport of SB 3.27.20 quotesBG 7.27
Bhagavad-gītā (7.27) states, icchā-dveṣa-samutthena. Two kinds of propensities arise in the living entity.
The purport of SB 3.27.20 quotesSB 10.14.4
The Bhāgavatam (10.14.4) says that if one gives up the auspicious path of devotional service and simply tries to know things by speculation, one wastes his valuable time (kliśyanti ye kevala-bodha-labdhaye).
Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.
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
Kapila explains how hearing, chanting, knowledge, and devotional service free the soul from material nature.
Back to this verse in chapter 3.27Learn the Sanskrit words of the 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 3.27
In this verse: “inquiry”, “knowledge”
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.27
In this verse: “principles”
Abhaya · Fearlessness
Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.27
In this verse: “fear”
Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
Does my search for knowledge help me surrender, or feed my desire to be supreme?
Notice one wish to control or be the greatest, and pause to acknowledge Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The story this chapter belongs to.
Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.
The purport quotesSB 10.14.4
Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.27's connections
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 3.27.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.