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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
3.28.73.28.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.28.8

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

शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य विजितासन आसनम् ।

तस्मिन्स्वस्ति समासीन ऋजुकाय: समभ्यसेत् ॥ ८ ॥

śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya

vijitāsana āsanam

tasmin svasti samāsīna

ṛju-kāyaḥ samabhyaset

Translation

After controlling one’s mind and sitting postures, one should spread a seat in a secluded and sanctified place, sit there in an easy posture, keeping the body erect, and practice breath control.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Prepare a Seat for Concentration

  1. 1

    After controlling the mind and sitting postures, one should prepare a seat in a secluded, sanctified place. The surroundings should support yoga practice.

  2. 2

    One should sit in an easy posture with the body erect. The posture described in the purport helps concentrate the mind on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    The traditional seat consists of deerskin and kuśa grass topped with cotton. Seated in this way, the yogī practices breath control.

Key points from the purport
  • Sitting in an easy posture is called svasti samāsīnaḥ.
  • It is recommended in the yoga scripture that one should put the soles of the feet between the two thighs and ankles and sit straight; that posture will help one to concentrate his mind on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • The seat should consist of deerskin and kuśa grass, topped with cotton.

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. śucau deśein a sanctified place
  2. pratiṣṭhāpyaafter placing
  3. vijita-āsanaḥcontrolling the sitting postures
  4. āsanama seat
  5. tasminin that place
  6. svasti samāsīnaḥsitting in an easy posture
  7. ṛju-kāyaḥkeeping the body erect
  8. samabhyasetone should practice
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

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 could I make my place of practice more suitable for concentration on the Lord?

Practice

Prepare a clean, quiet place and sit comfortably upright for a brief period of concentration on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPrepare a Seat for ConcentrationThis 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.

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