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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
3.28.253.28.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.28.26

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

वक्षोऽधिवासमृषभस्य महाविभूते:

पुंसां मनोनयननिर्वृतिमादधानम् ।

कण्ठं च कौस्तुभमणेरधिभूषणार्थं

कुर्यान्मनस्यखिललोकनमस्कृतस्य ॥ २६ ॥

vakṣo ’dhivāsam ṛṣabhasya mahā-vibhūteḥ

puṁsāṁ mano-nayana-nirvṛtim ādadhānam

kaṇṭhaṁ ca kaustubha-maṇer adhibhūṣaṇārthaṁ

kuryān manasy akhila-loka-namaskṛtasya

Translation

The yogī should then meditate on the chest of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the abode of goddess Mahā-Lakṣmī. The Lord’s chest is the source of all transcendental pleasure for the mind and full satisfaction for the eyes. The yogī should then imprint on his mind the neck of the Personality of Godhead, who is adored by the entire universe. The neck of the Lord serves to enhance the beauty of the Kaustubha gem, which hangs on His chest.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Find Devotional Pleasure in the Lord’s Form

  1. 1

    Mahā-Lakṣmī, the reservoir of all energies, resides on the Lord’s chest. His energies work to create, maintain and destroy, while His chest gives transcendental pleasure to the mind.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s beautiful neck enhances the beauty of the Kaustubha gem, rather than the gem enhancing Him. Both His chest and neck are objects of meditation.

  3. 3

    Hearing about, seeing or meditating on the Lord’s form can bring transcendental pleasure. Meditation is one process of devotional service, while bhakti-yogīs especially take advantage of hearing and chanting.

Key points from the purport
  • Temple worship is therefore meant for persons who are not so advanced that they can meditate upon the form of the Lord.
  • The advantageous position of the yogī is that he can sit anywhere in a solitary place and meditate upon the form of the Lord.
  • The Lord can bestow the blessings of transcendental pleasure upon either the visitor of the temple, the meditator- yogī or one who hears about the Lord’s transcendental form from scriptures like the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam or Bhagavad-gītā.

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. vakṣaḥthe chest
  2. adhivāsamthe abode
  3. ṛṣabhasyaof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. mahā-vibhūteḥof Mahā-Lakṣmī
  5. puṁsāmof persons
  6. manaḥto the mind
  7. nayanato the eyes
  8. nirvṛtimtranscendental pleasure
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: “devotional service”, “bhakti-yogīs”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

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

Which opportunity to hear about, see or remember the Lord’s form can I welcome today?

Practice

Read this description of the Lord’s chest and neck aloud, then pause to remember His form as devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFind Devotional Pleasure in the Lord’s FormThis 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 3.28.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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