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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
3.28.173.28.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.28.18

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

कीर्तन्यतीर्थयशसं पुण्यश्लोकयशस्करम् ।

ध्यायेद्देवं समग्राङ्गं यावन्न च्यवते मन: ॥ १८ ॥

kīrtanya-tīrtha-yaśasaṁ

puṇya-śloka-yaśaskaram

dhyāyed devaṁ samagrāṅgaṁ

yāvan na cyavate manaḥ

Translation

The glory of the Lord is always worth singing, for His glories enhance the glories of His devotees. One should therefore meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead and upon His devotees. One should meditate on the eternal form of the Lord until the mind becomes fixed.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Keep Returning the Mind to the Lord

  1. 1

    Constantly thinking of the Lord’s personal form is the perfection of yoga. One should continue practicing until the mind no longer wanders.

  2. 2

    Worshiping the Lord’s form in the temple and meditating on His form within the mind serve the same purpose. Because the Supreme Personality of Godhead is absolute, these forms have the same value.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s glories also glorify His devotees. Chanting the holy name of the Lord, or the name of a holy devotee, is purifying.

Key points from the purport
  • The devotees especially see the Lord in the beautiful blackish form of Śyāmasundara.
  • The same purpose is served when a devotee worships the form of the Lord in the temple.
  • The conclusion is that a perfect yogī should always be accustomed to seeing the form of the Lord, and unless the mind is fixed in that way, he should continue practicing yoga.

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. kīrtanyaworth singing
  2. tīrtha-yaśasamthe glories of the Lord
  3. puṇya-ślokaof the devotees
  4. yaśaḥ-karamenhancing the glory
  5. dhyāyetone should meditate
  6. devamupon the Lord
  7. samagra-aṅgamall the limbs
  8. yāvatas much as
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “worshiping”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.28

    In this verse: “chanting”, “glorify”, “holy name”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.28

    In this verse: “purifying”

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

What helps me gently return my wandering mind to the Lord’s form?

Practice

Spend two minutes remembering Kṛṣṇa’s form, returning your attention whenever it wanders.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

7

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.28's connections

Live this todayKeep Returning the Mind to the 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 3.28.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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