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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
3.27.253.27.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.27.26

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

एवं विदिततत्त्वस्य प्रकृतिर्मयि मानसम् ।

युञ्जतो नापकुरुत आत्मारामस्य कर्हिचित् ॥ २६ ॥

evaṁ vidita-tattvasya

prakṛtir mayi mānasam

yuñjato nāpakuruta

ātmārāmasya karhicit

Translation

The influence of material nature cannot harm an enlightened soul, even though he engages in material activities, because he knows the truth of the Absolute, and his mind is fixed on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Fix the Mind on the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Ātmārāma means one who rejoices in the self. Here it describes a devotee fixed in spiritual activities in relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the enjoyer, and the living entities are meant for His service and enjoyment. One who knows this and engages all resources in His service escapes material reactions and the influence of the modes.

  3. 3

    Building a skyscraper and building a temple of Viṣṇu both involve material resources, but their purposes differ. The devotee seeks to satisfy the Lord rather than the body and therefore remains free from material entanglement.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kapila says that mayi mānasam, a devotee whose mind is always fixed upon the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is called ātmārāma or vidita-tattva.
  • Ātmā, in the material sense, means the body or the mind, but when referring to one whose mind is fixed on the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord, ātmārāma means “one who is fixed in spiritual activities in relationship with the Supreme Soul.”
  • This is because the devotee, who is constructing the temple, has fixed his mind upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but the nondevotee, who is constructing the skyscraper, has his mind fixed in sense gratification.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. vidita-tattvasyato one who knows the Absolute Truth
  3. prakṛtiḥmaterial nature
  4. mayion Me
  5. mānasamthe mind
  6. yuñjataḥfixing
  7. nanot
  8. apakurutecan do harm
  9. ātma-ārāmasyato one who rejoices in the self
  10. karhicitat any time
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 3.27

    In this verse: “free from”

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

Am I using my resources mainly to satisfy myself or to serve the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Set aside a small amount of time or one available resource today specifically for service to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFix the Mind on the Supreme LordThis 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 3.27.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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