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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.27.6

Who is speaking and story frame

यमादिभिर्योगपथैरभ्यसन्श्रद्धयान्वित: ।

मयि भावेन सत्येन मत्कथाश्रवणेन च ॥ ६ ॥

yamādibhir yoga-pathair

abhyasañ śraddhayānvitaḥ

mayi bhāvena satyena

mat-kathā-śravaṇena ca

Translation

One has to become faithful by practicing the controlling process of the yoga system and must elevate himself to the platform of unalloyed devotional service by chanting and hearing about Me.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear and Chant With Sincere Devotion

  1. 1

    The purpose of yoga is not merely physical exercise. Its controlling practices should train the mind for faithful devotional service.

  2. 2

    Knowing that Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the source of everything helps one become absorbed in love for Him. Bhāva is the preliminary stage of love of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Hearing and chanting about the Lord are the direct path of bhakti-yoga. Devotion must be without duplicity, not an outward practice hiding a desire to become one with the Supreme.

Key points from the purport
  • The practice of yoga by physical exercise is not the ultimate goal; the real end is to concentrate and to control the mind and train oneself to be situated in faithful devotional service.
  • One may come to the standard of faithfulness by following the rules and regulations of the yoga system, and the same goal can be achieved simply by chanting and hearing about the transcendental activities of the Lord.
  • Unless one is completely faithful to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and engages himself in the process of hearing and chanting the glories of the Lord, there is no possibility for liberation.

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 3.27.6 quotesBG 10.8

Bhāva is explained in Bhagavad-gītā (10.8). Budhā bhāva-samanvitāḥ: one should be absorbed in the thought of love of Kṛṣṇa.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yama-ādibhiḥbeginning with yama
  2. yoga-pathaiḥby the yoga system
  3. abhyasanpracticing
  4. śraddhayā anvitaḥwith great faith
  5. mayiunto Me
  6. bhāvenawith devotion
  7. satyenaunalloyed
  8. mat-kathāstories about Me
  9. śravaṇenaby hearing
  10. 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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.27

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 3.27

    In this verse: “love”

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 my hearing and chanting more sincere and attentive?

Practice

Read aloud one passage about the Lord’s glories from this purport, listening carefully with the desire to serve Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear and Chant With Sincere 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 3.27.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.