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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 28: Kapila’s Instructions on the Execution of Devotional Service
3.28.103.28.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.28.11

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Personality of Godheadsince 3.28.1inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

प्राणायामैर्दहेद्दोषान्धारणाभिश्च किल्बिषान् ।

प्रत्याहारेण संसर्गान्ध्यानेनानीश्वरान्गुणान् ॥ ११ ॥

prāṇāyāmair dahed doṣān

dhāraṇābhiś ca kilbiṣān

pratyāhāreṇa saṁsargān

dhyānenānīśvarān guṇān

Translation

By practicing the process of prāṇāyāma, one can eradicate the contamination of his physiological condition, and by concentrating the mind one can become free from all sinful activities. By restraining the senses one can free himself from material association, and by meditating on the Supreme Personality of Godhead one can become free from the three modes of material attachment.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Takes Us Beyond Material Modes

  1. 1

    The purport describes prāṇāyāma as purifying the bodily condition. Concentrating the mind frees one from sinful activities, and restraining the senses frees one from material association.

  2. 2

    Ultimately, one must meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Unalloyed devotional service takes one beyond the three modes of material nature.

  3. 3

    Bhakti-yoga begins with chanting and hearing and is easier to practice in this age. Fixing the purified mind upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead is called samādhi.

Key points from the purport
  • Here it is recommended that by practicing the breathing process of prāṇāyāma one can be released from contamination created by the principal physiological elements, by concentrating the mind one can become free from sinful activities, and by withdrawing the senses one can free himself from material association.
  • Ultimately, one has to meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead in order to be elevated to the transcendental position where he is no longer affected by the three modes of material nature.
  • One has to purify his physiological condition by concentration and by restraint of the senses; then he can fix his mind upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 28: Kapila’s Instructions on the Execution of Devotional Service

Kapila teaches disciplined yoga and devoted meditation upon the Lord’s eternal form.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.28
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prāṇāyāmaiḥby practice of prāṇāyāma
  2. dahetone can eradicate
  3. doṣāncontaminations
  4. dhāraṇābhiḥby concentrating the mind
  5. caand
  6. kilbiṣānsinful activities
  7. pratyāhāreṇaby restraining the senses
  8. saṁsargānmaterial association
  9. dhyānenaby meditating
  10. anīśvarān guṇānthe modes of material nature
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 3.28

    In this verse: “sinful”, “contamination”, “purifying”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.28

    In this verse: “attachment”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.28

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

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 could I make more room for chanting and hearing today?

Practice

Spend two quiet minutes chanting and listening attentively to the Lord’s holy name.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Takes Us Beyond Material ModesThis 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.

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