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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 28: Kapila’s Instructions on the Execution of Devotional Service
3.28.203.28.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.28.21

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

सञ्चिन्तयेद्भगवतश्चरणारविन्दं

वज्राङ्कुशध्वजसरोरुहलाञ्छनाढ्यम् ।

उत्तुङ्गरक्तविलसन्नखचक्रवाल-

ज्योत्‍स्‍नाभिराहतमहद्‍धृदयान्धकारम् ॥ २१ ॥

sañcintayed bhagavataś caraṇāravindaṁ

vajrāṅkuśa-dhvaja-saroruha-lāñchanāḍhyam

uttuṅga-rakta-vilasan-nakha-cakravāla-

jyotsnābhir āhata-mahad-dhṛdayāndhakāram

Translation

The devotee should first concentrate his mind on the Lord’s lotus feet, which are adorned with the marks of a thunderbolt, a goad, a banner and a lotus. The splendor of their beautiful ruby nails resembles the orb of the moon and dispels the thick gloom of one’s heart.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Begin Meditation at the Lord’s Lotus Feet

  1. 1

    The Lord’s eternal form is not imaginary. His soles bear distinctive marks resembling a thunderbolt, a flag, a lotus flower and a goad.

  2. 2

    The brilliance of His toenails resembles moonlight. Meditating on these marks and this light frees one from the darkness of ignorance in material existence.

  3. 3

    This liberation is not achieved by mental speculation. One should first fix the mind on the lotus feet of the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord’s sole is depicted with distinctive lines resembling a thunderbolt, a flag, a lotus flower and a goad.
  • If a yogī looks upon the marks of the Lord’s sole and on the blazing brilliance of His nails, then he can be freed from the darkness of ignorance in material existence.
  • In other words, one has to fix his mind first on the lotus feet of the Lord if he wants to be freed from the darkness of ignorance in material existence.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sañcintayethe should concentrate
  2. bhagavataḥof the Lord
  3. caraṇa-aravindamon the lotus feet
  4. vajrathunderbolt
  5. aṅkuśagoad (rod for driving elephants)
  6. dhvajabanner
  7. saroruhalotus
  8. lāñchanamarks
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: “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 the given description help me meditate rather than invent an imaginary form?

Practice

Spend one minute recalling the four marks on the Lord’s soles and the moonlike brilliance of His toenails.

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 todayBegin Meditation at the Lord’s 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.

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