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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 28: Kapila’s Instructions on the Execution of Devotional Service
3.28.33.28.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.28.4

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

अहिंसा सत्यमस्तेयं यावदर्थपरिग्रह: ।

ब्रह्मचर्यं तप: शौचं स्वाध्याय: पुरुषार्चनम् ॥ ४ ॥

ahiṁsā satyam asteyaṁ

yāvad-artha-parigrahaḥ

brahmacaryaṁ tapaḥ śaucaṁ

svādhyāyaḥ puruṣārcanam

Translation

One should practice nonviolence and truthfulness, should avoid thieving and be satisfied with possessing as much as he needs for his maintenance. He should abstain from sex life, perform austerity, be clean, study the Vedas and worship the supreme form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Live Simply and Worship Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Practice nonviolence, truthfulness, cleanliness and austerity, and refrain from theft. The purport explains that accumulating more than one needs is also a form of theft.

  2. 2

    Yoga requires control of sex life, not unrestricted enjoyment. Brahmacaryam means living in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness; one whose sex life is restricted within marriage is also called a brahmacārī.

  3. 3

    One should daily worship the form of Kṛṣṇa, the original Personality of Godhead, and read authorized Vedic scriptures. Saintly persons, scripture and the spiritual master guide progress in devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • The word puruṣārcanam in this verse means worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, especially the form of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • Therefore in yoga practice one not only must concentrate his mind on the person of Kṛṣṇa, but must also worship the form or Deity of Kṛṣṇa daily.
  • One cannot enjoy unrestricted sex life and practice yoga; this is rascaldom.

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. ahiṁsānonviolence
  2. satyamtruthfulness
  3. asteyamrefraining from theft
  4. yāvat-arthaas much as necessary
  5. parigrahaḥpossessing
  6. brahmacaryamcelibacy
  7. tapaḥausterity
  8. śaucamcleanliness
  9. sva-adhyāyaḥstudy of the Vedas
  10. puruṣa-arcanamworship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
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: “worship”, “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

Which habit could I simplify so that my life better supports worship of Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Read a short passage from authorized Vedic scripture today with attention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayLive Simply and Worship KṛṣṇaThis 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 3.28.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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