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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
3.27.33.27.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.27.4

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kapilasince 3.27.1inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

अर्थे ह्यविद्यमानेऽपि संसृतिर्न निवर्तते ।

ध्यायतो विषयानस्य स्वप्नेऽनर्थागमो यथा ॥ ४ ॥

arthe hy avidyamāne ’pi

saṁsṛtir na nivartate

dhyāyato viṣayān asya

svapne ’narthāgamo yathā

Translation

Actually a living entity is transcendental to material existence, but because of his mentality of lording it over material nature, his material existential condition does not cease, and just as in a dream, he is affected by all sorts of disadvantages.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Is Our Actual Friend

  1. 1

    The soul is transcendental to material nature, yet the desire to lord it over nature keeps him conditioned. Like someone in a dream, he experiences disadvantages arising from this mistaken mentality.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the supreme enjoyer, proprietor and friend of all living entities. Conditioned life continues while we claim these positions for ourselves.

  3. 3

    Our ability to help others is limited, but Kṛṣṇa’s friendship never cheats anyone. The greatest service is to awaken others to Kṛṣṇa consciousness so they can recognize their actual friend.

Key points from the purport
  • Similarly, the spirit soul has nothing to do with this material nature, but because of his mentality of lording it over, he is put into the position of conditional existence.
  • He is the actual friend of all living entities.
  • One should try to raise the consciousness of the conditioned soul to the platform of understanding that Kṛṣṇa is his actual friend.

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· 1

The purport of SB 3.27.4 quotesBG 5.29

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29), He is the beneficiary for all the results of sacrifices and penances (bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasām), and He is the proprietor of all the three worlds (sarva-loka-maheśvaram).

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 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. arthereal cause
  2. hicertainly
  3. avidyamānenot existing
  4. apialthough
  5. saṁsṛtiḥthe material existential condition
  6. nanot
  7. nivartatedoes cease
  8. dhyāyataḥcontemplating
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.27

    In this verse: “friend”

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 might remembering Kṛṣṇa as my actual friend change my desire to control things?

Practice

Pause today and reflect: “Kṛṣṇa is the supreme enjoyer, proprietor and my actual friend.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is Our Actual FriendThis 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 3.27.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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