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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.28.38

Who is speaking and story frame

देहोऽपि दैववशग: खलु कर्म यावत्

स्वारम्भकं प्रतिसमीक्षत एव सासु: ।

तं सप्रपञ्चमधिरूढसमाधियोग:

स्वाप्नं पुनर्न भजते प्रतिबुद्धवस्तु: ॥ ३८ ॥

deho ’pi daiva-vaśagaḥ khalu karma yāvat

svārambhakaṁ pratisamīkṣata eva sāsuḥ

taṁ sa-prapañcam adhirūḍha-samādhi-yogaḥ

svāpnaṁ punar na bhajate pratibuddha-vastuḥ

Translation

The body of such a liberated yogī, along with the senses, is taken charge of by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and it functions until its destined activities are finished. The liberated devotee, being awake to his constitutional position and thus situated in samādhi, the highest perfectional stage of yoga, does not accept the by-products of the material body as his own. Thus he considers his bodily activities to be like the activities of a body in a dream.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Awaken Beyond the Bodily Concept

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead takes charge of the liberated devotee’s body and senses. They continue functioning until the reactions of past activities are finished.

  2. 2

    Like an electric fan that keeps moving after being switched off, the liberated soul’s bodily activities continue for some time. These activities do not bind him to the bodily concept of life.

  3. 3

    Awake to his constitutional position, the liberated devotee does not identify with his body or its expansions, such as family and house. He regards bodily activities as one regards the activities of a body in a dream.

Key points from the purport
  • As long as the liberated soul is in contact with the body, why don’t the bodily activities affect him?
  • In answer to such questions, this verse explains that the material body of a liberated soul is taken charge of by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • As one who is awake has no connection with the activities of the body in a dream, an awakened, liberated soul has no connection with the activities of the present body.

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. dehaḥthe body
  2. apimoreover
  3. daiva-vaśa-gaḥunder the control of the Personality of Godhead
  4. khaluindeed
  5. karmaactivities
  6. yāvatas much as
  7. sva-ārambhakambegun by himself
  8. pratisamīkṣatecontinues to function
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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”, “devotee’s”

  • 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.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When do I most strongly identify myself with my body or its extensions?

Practice

Pause once today and reflect: “My body and its activities do not define my constitutional position.”

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAwaken Beyond the Bodily ConceptThis 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 3.28.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.