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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 27: Understanding Material Nature
3.27.203.27.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.27.21

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 3.27.21inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

श्रीभगवानुवाच

अनिमित्तनिमित्तेन स्वधर्मेणामलात्मना ।

तीव्रया मयि भक्त्या च श्रुतसम्भृतया चिरम् ॥ २१ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

animitta-nimittena

sva-dharmeṇāmalātmanā

tīvrayā mayi bhaktyā ca

śruta-sambhṛtayā ciram

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: One can get liberation by seriously discharging devotional service unto Me and thereby hearing for a long time about Me or from Me. By thus executing one’s prescribed duties, there will be no reaction, and one will be freed from the contamination of matter.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear Regularly and Work for Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Contact with material nature alone does not make one conditioned; contamination by its modes does. Like a lotus in water, one can remain in material nature without being affected.

  2. 2

    Perform prescribed duties in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, seeking the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such work does not produce binding reactions.

  3. 3

    Serious devotional service develops through continuous, regular hearing about and from the Lord. Repeated hearing from reliable sources cleanses the heart and diminishes lust and greed.

Key points from the purport
  • One has to perform his prescribed duties in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
  • In discharging Kṛṣṇa conscious duties, one should determine whether, by his professional or occupational duties, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is satisfied.
  • Anything done otherwise, without the satisfaction of Viṣṇu, or Yajña, produces bondage, so here it is also prescribed by Kapila Muni that one can transcend material entanglement by acting in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, which means seriously engaging in devotional service.

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. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Personality of Godhead said
  2. animitta-nimittenawithout desiring the fruits of activities
  3. sva-dharmeṇaby executing one’s prescribed duties
  4. amala-ātmanāwith a pure mind
  5. tīvrayāserious
  6. mayiunto Me
  7. bhaktyāby devotional service
  8. caand
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.27

    In this verse: “contamination”, “cleanses”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “lust”, “material”

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 can I make the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa the purpose of one everyday duty?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to hear Bhagavad-gītā or Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from a reliable devotional source.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear Regularly and Work for KṛṣṇaThis 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 3.27.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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