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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
3.28.213.28.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.28.22

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

यच्छौचनि:सृतसरित्प्रवरोदकेन

तीर्थेन मूर्ध्‍न्‍यधिकृतेन शिव: शिवोऽभूत् ।

ध्यातुर्मन:शमलशैलनिसृष्टवज्रं

ध्यायेच्चिरं भगवतश्चरणारविन्दम् ॥ २२ ॥

yac-chauca-niḥsṛta-sarit-pravarodakena

tīrthena mūrdhny adhikṛtena śivaḥ śivo ’bhūt

dhyātur manaḥ-śamala-śaila-nisṛṣṭa-vajraṁ

dhyāyec ciraṁ bhagavataś caraṇāravindam

Translation

The blessed Lord Śiva becomes all the more blessed by bearing on his head the holy waters of the Ganges, which has its source in the water that washed the Lord’s lotus feet. The Lord’s feet act like thunderbolts hurled to shatter the mountain of sin stored in the mind of the meditating devotee. One should therefore meditate on the lotus feet of the Lord for a long time.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Feet Shatter Accumulated Impurity

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and everyone else, including Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā, is His servant. The Supreme Lord and the demigods should not be considered equal.

  2. 2

    Lord Śiva becomes even more auspicious by bearing the Ganges water on his head. This holy water originates from the washing of Lord Viṣṇu’s lotus feet.

  3. 3

    Desires to lord it over material nature accumulate like a mountain of dirt in the mind. Sustained meditation on the Lord’s lotus feet acts like a thunderbolt that shatters this mountain.

Key points from the purport
  • In this verse the position of Lord Śiva is specifically mentioned.
  • Lord Śiva is important because he is holding on his head the holy Ganges water, which has its origin in the foot-wash of Lord Viṣṇu.
  • The stress is on the lotus feet 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.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 3.28.22 quotesCC Ādi 5.142

In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi 5.142) it is said, ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa, ara saba bhṛtya: the Supreme Lord is Kṛṣṇa, and everyone else, including Lord Śiva and Lord Brahmā — not to mention other demigods — is a servant 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 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. yatthe Lord’s lotus feet
  2. śaucawashing
  3. niḥsṛtagone forth
  4. sarit-pravaraof the Ganges
  5. udakenaby the water
  6. tīrthenaholy
  7. mūrdhnion his head
  8. adhikṛtenaborne
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”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.28

    In this verse: “blessed”

  • 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

What desire to control material nature distracts me from remembering the Lord’s lotus feet?

Practice

Set aside a few uninterrupted minutes to remember the Lord’s lotus feet, gently returning your attention whenever it wanders.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Feet Shatter Accumulated ImpurityThis 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 3.28.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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