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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
3.28.413.28.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.28.42

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

सर्वभूतेषु चात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि ।

ईक्षेतानन्यभावेन भूतेष्विव तदात्मताम् ॥ ४२ ॥

sarva-bhūteṣu cātmānaṁ

sarva-bhūtāni cātmani

īkṣetānanya-bhāvena

bhūteṣv iva tad-ātmatām

Translation

A yogi should see the same soul in all manifestations, for all that exists is a manifestation of different energies of the Supreme. In this way the devotee should see all living entities without distinction. That is realization of the Supreme Soul.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

See Spiritual Life Beyond Bodily Differences

  1. 1

    Everything that exists manifests the different energies of the Supreme. The devotee should therefore see living entities with equal vision.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Soul enters every universe and even the atoms. Seeing His presence everywhere frees one from material designations.

  3. 3

    Different bodily forms do not remove the spiritual nature of living entities. The perfect vision of the yogī or devotee recognizes the same quality of spirit in every living being, including plants.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Soul is present everywhere in the dormant stage, and when one can see the presence of the Supreme Soul everywhere, one is liberated from material designations.
  • There are four different divisions of species: living entities which sprout from the earth, living entities born of fermentation or germination, living entities which come from eggs and living entities which come from the embryo.
  • The perfect vision of the yogī or devotee is that he sees the presence of the living entity everywhere.

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. sarva-bhūteṣuin all manifestations
  2. caand
  3. ātmānamthe soul
  4. sarva-bhūtāniall manifestations
  5. caalso
  6. ātmaniin the Supreme Spirit
  7. īkṣetahe should see
  8. ananya-bhāvenawith equal vision
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: “devotee”

  • 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

Which living beings do I tend to overlook because their bodies differ from mine?

Practice

Observe a plant today and pause to recognize the presence of a living entity, rather than seeing only its outward form.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySee Spiritual Life Beyond Bodily DifferencesThis 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 3.28.42? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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