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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 3.28.39

Who is speaking and story frame

यथा पुत्राच्च वित्ताच्च पृथङ्‌मर्त्य: प्रतीयते ।

अप्यात्मत्वेनाभिमताद्देहादे: पुरुषस्तथा ॥ ३९ ॥

yathā putrāc ca vittāc ca

pṛthaṅ martyaḥ pratīyate

apy ātmatvenābhimatād

dehādeḥ puruṣas tathā

Translation

Because of great affection for family and wealth, one accepts a son and some money as his own, and due to affection for the material body, one thinks that it is his. But actually, as one can understand that his family and wealth are different from him, the liberated soul can understand that he and his body are not the same.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

You Are Different From Your Body

  1. 1

    Affection leads us to call family, wealth and the body “mine.” Yet we can understand that family and wealth are separate from us.

  2. 2

    The same understanding applies to the body: “I am separate from my body.” This proper understanding is called pratibuddha.

  3. 3

    By obtaining knowledge in devotional service, or Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can become a liberated soul.

Key points from the purport
  • Similarly, because of great affection for money, we accept some amount of wealth in the bank as ours.
  • In the same way, we claim that the body is ours because of affection for it.
  • But actually I know that the son and the money are separate from me.

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. yathāas
  2. putrātfrom a son
  3. caand
  4. vittātfrom wealth
  5. caalso
  6. pṛthakdifferently
  7. martyaḥa mortal man
  8. pratīyateis understood
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.28

    In this verse: “understand”, “knowledge”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.28

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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 can the phrase “my body” teach me about the difference between myself and my body?

Practice

Say “my hand” and “my body,” then take a moment to reflect that you are distinct from what you call yours.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayYou Are Different From Your BodyThis 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 3.28.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.