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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
3.27.43.27.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.27.5

Mukti· Liberation
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

अत एव शनैश्चित्तं प्रसक्तमसतां पथि ।

भक्तियोगेन तीव्रेण विरक्त्या च नयेद्वशम् ॥ ५ ॥

ata eva śanaiś cittaṁ

prasaktam asatāṁ pathi

bhakti-yogena tīvreṇa

viraktyā ca nayed vaśam

Translation

It is the duty of every conditioned soul to engage his polluted consciousness, which is now attached to material enjoyment, in very serious devotional service with detachment. Thus his mind and consciousness will be under full control.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Engage the Mind in Serious Devotion

  1. 1

    Serious bhakti-yoga rests on the conviction that Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the proprietor, enjoyer and friend. One should understand these principles and help others understand them.

  2. 2

    Devotional service naturally removes the tendency to claim lordship over material nature. This detachment is called vairāgya.

  3. 3

    The senses cannot simply be stopped; their activities should be engaged in devotional service. Fixing the mind at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet draws it away from attachment to temporary material existence.

Key points from the purport
  • One must be firmly convinced of these three principles: one should always think that Kṛṣṇa is the proprietor, Kṛṣṇa is the enjoyer and Kṛṣṇa is the friend.
  • Since the senses are always active, their activities should be engaged in devotional service — one cannot stop their activities.
  • Unless one’s mind and consciousness are fully engaged in devotional service, there is always the opportunity for the mind to become occupied with desires for 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. ataḥ evatherefore
  2. śanaiḥgradually
  3. cittammind, consciousness
  4. prasaktamattached
  5. asatāmof material enjoyments
  6. pathion the path
  7. bhakti-yogenaby devotional service
  8. tīvreṇavery serious
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: “attached”, “material”, “attachment”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “detachment”, “vairāgya”

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

Which activity of my senses could I redirect toward devotional service?

Practice

Spend two quiet minutes fixing your mind on Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, returning to that focus whenever material desires distract you.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEngage the Mind in Serious DevotionThis 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 3.27.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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