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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
3.28.193.28.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.28.20

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

तस्मिँल्ल‍ब्धपदं चित्तं सर्वावयवसंस्थितम् ।

विलक्ष्यैकत्र संयुज्यादङ्गे भगवतो मुनि: ॥ २० ॥

tasmiḻ labdha-padaṁ cittaṁ

sarvāvayava-saṁsthitam

vilakṣyaikatra saṁyujyād

aṅge bhagavato muniḥ

Translation

In fixing his mind on the eternal form of the Lord, the yogī should not take a collective view of all His limbs, but should fix the mind on each individual limb of the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Meditate Carefully, Beginning With the Lotus Feet

  1. 1

    Rather than taking only a collective view of the Lord’s form, one should focus on each individual limb. This teaches that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is never impersonal.

  2. 2

    Meditation should begin with His lotus feet and gradually rise to His ankles, thighs, waist, chest, neck and face.

  3. 3

    The purport distinguishes munis, who try to meditate through thought, from bhakti-yogīs, who render actual service to the Lord. These instructions educate the thoughtful meditator about His personal form.

Key points from the purport
  • In order to convince the yogī that the Absolute Truth, or Supreme Personality of Godhead, is never impersonal at any time, the following verses prescribe observing the Lord in His personal form, limb after limb.
  • To think of the Lord as a whole may sometimes be impersonal; therefore, it is recommended here that one first think of His lotus feet, then His ankles, then the thighs, then the waist, then the chest, then the neck, then the face and so on.
  • One should begin from the lotus feet and gradually rise to the upper limbs of the transcendental body of the Lord.

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. tasminon the form of the Lord
  2. labdha-padamfixed
  3. cittamthe mind
  4. sarvaall
  5. avayavalimbs
  6. saṁsthitamfixed upon
  7. vilakṣyahaving distinguished
  8. ekatrain one place
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “bhakti-yogīs”

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 careful attention to the Lord’s lotus feet make my meditation more personal?

Practice

Begin a brief meditation by focusing your mind on the Lord’s lotus feet.

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.

Live this todayMeditate Carefully, Beginning With the Lotus FeetThis 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 3.28.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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