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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 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila
3.29.103.29.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 3.29.11-12

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kapilasince 3.29.7inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

मद्गुणश्रुतिमात्रेण मयि सर्वगुहाशये ।

मनोगतिरविच्छिन्ना यथा गङ्गाम्भसोऽम्बुधौ ॥ ११ ॥

लक्षणं भक्तियोगस्य निर्गुणस्य ह्युदाहृतम् ।

अहैतुक्यव्यवहिता या भक्ति: पुरुषोत्तमे ॥ १२ ॥

mad-guṇa-śruti-mātreṇa

mayi sarva-guhāśaye

mano-gatir avicchinnā

yathā gaṅgāmbhaso ’mbudhau

lakṣaṇaṁ bhakti-yogasya

nirguṇasya hy udāhṛtam

ahaituky avyavahitā

yā bhaktiḥ puruṣottame

Translation

The manifestation of unadulterated devotional service is exhibited when one’s mind is at once attracted to hearing the transcendental name and qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is residing in everyone’s heart. Just as the water of the Ganges flows naturally down towards the ocean, such devotional ecstasy, uninterrupted by any material condition, flows towards the Supreme Lord.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Devotion Flows Without Interruption

  1. 1

    Love of Godhead is the basic principle of pure devotional service. Hearing the Supreme Lord’s transcendental name and qualities naturally attracts the pure devotee, as the Ganges flows toward the ocean.

  2. 2

    A pure devotee serves without seeking any material or spiritual benefit. Devotional service is meant only for the Supreme Personality of Godhead—Nārāyaṇa, Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    No material condition can stop a pure devotee’s service. The devotee shapes every moment around serving the Lord and has no interest apart from fulfilling His desire.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Lord is uncontaminated by the modes of material nature; therefore He is attractive to the pure devotee.
  • No material condition can stop the flow of the devotional service of a pure devotee.
  • A pure devotee must engage in the service of the Lord twenty-four hours a day, without cessation; his life is so molded that at every minute and every second he engages in some sort of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

Quoted in the purport ofCC Ādi 4.207

These three verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.29.11-13) were spoken by Lord Kṛṣṇa in the form of Kapiladeva.

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 19.171

This verse and the following three verses are quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.29.11-14).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila

Kapila explains devotional service, honoring the Lord’s presence in all beings, and the power of time.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.29
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. matof Me
  2. guṇaqualities
  3. śrutiby hearing
  4. mātreṇajust
  5. mayitowards Me
  6. sarva-guhā-āśayeresiding in everyone’s heart
  7. manaḥ-gatiḥthe heart’s course
  8. avicchinnācontinuous
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 3.29

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 3.29

    In this verse: “ecstasy”, “love”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.29

    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

What benefit do I hope to receive from devotion, and how could I turn my attention toward serving the Lord simply out of love?

Practice

Spend five minutes hearing about Kṛṣṇa’s name or qualities, with the intention of serving Him rather than gaining something.

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 todayPure Devotion Flows Without InterruptionThis 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 3.29.11-12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.