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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
3.28.343.28.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.28.35

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

मुक्ताश्रयं यर्हि निर्विषयं विरक्तं

निर्वाणमृच्छति मन: सहसा यथार्चि: ।

आत्मानमत्र पुरुषोऽव्यवधानमेकम्

अन्वीक्षते प्रतिनिवृत्तगुणप्रवाह: ॥ ३५ ॥

muktāśrayaṁ yarhi nirviṣayaṁ viraktaṁ

nirvāṇam ṛcchati manaḥ sahasā yathārciḥ

ātmānam atra puruṣo ’vyavadhānam ekam

anvīkṣate pratinivṛtta-guṇa-pravāhaḥ

Translation

When the mind is thus completely freed from all material contamination and detached from material objectives, it is just like the flame of a lamp. At that time the mind is actually dovetailed with that of the Supreme Lord and is experienced as one with Him because it is freed from the interactive flow of the material qualities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Oneness Means Serving the Lord’s Desires

  1. 1

    In material consciousness, the mind moves between acceptance and rejection. When love for the Supreme Lord develops, the mind becomes naturally absorbed in serving Him.

  2. 2

    Oneness means bringing one’s mind into agreement with the Lord’s desires, not losing individuality. Arjuna remained an individual when he accepted the desire of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Nirvāṇa means the end of mental activity governed by the material modes, not the end of all mental activity. The purified mind remains active only to satisfy the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • As long as the mind is in material consciousness, it must be forcibly trained to accept meditation on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but when one is actually elevated to loving the Supreme Lord, the mind is automatically absorbed in thought of the Lord.
  • But after hearing Bhagavad-gītā from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Arjuna dovetailed his mind with Kṛṣṇa’s desire.
  • Similarly, when the mind stops functioning on the material platform, it is conserved in the activities of the Supreme 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. mukta-āśrayamsituated in liberation
  2. yarhiat which time
  3. nirviṣayamdetached from sense objects
  4. viraktamindifferent
  5. nirvāṇamextinction
  6. ṛcchatiobtains
  7. manaḥthe mind
  8. sahasāimmediately
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “contamination”, “purified”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 3.28

    In this verse: “detached”

  • 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 does understanding oneness as agreement in service change my view of spiritual perfection?

Practice

Reflect for one minute on Arjuna’s example, then offer a simple prayer to align your desires with Kṛṣṇa’s.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOneness Means Serving the Lord’s DesiresThis 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 3.28.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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