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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila
3.29.133.29.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.29.14

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

स एव भक्तियोगाख्य आत्यन्तिक उदाहृत: ।

येनातिव्रज्य त्रिगुणं मद्भावायोपपद्यते ॥ १४ ॥

sa eva bhakti-yogākhya

ātyantika udāhṛtaḥ

yenātivrajya tri-guṇaṁ

mad-bhāvāyopapadyate

Translation

By attaining the highest platform of devotional service, as I have explained, one can overcome the influence of the three modes of material nature and be situated in the transcendental stage, as is the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Service Transcends the Material Modes

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is always beyond the influence of material creation. Goodness, passion, and ignorance cannot affect Him; therefore He is called nirguṇa.

  2. 2

    One situated in pure devotional service is also beyond the influence of the three material modes. Constant devotional service to Kṛṣṇa places the devotee on the liberated, transcendental platform.

  3. 3

    Through pure devotional service, the devotee attains qualitative equality with the Lord. There is no need to seek this separately through merging into His effulgence.

Key points from the purport
  • Only Nārāyaṇa, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa, is always in the transcendental position, beyond the influence of material creation.
  • Just as the Lord is unaffected by the influence of the material modes, so too are His pure devotees.
  • This is applicable only to the person who constantly engages in the devotional service of Kṛṣṇa and is thus in the transcendental stage; he is above the influence of the three modes of material nature.

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 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. saḥthis
  2. evaindeed
  3. bhakti-yogadevotional service
  4. ākhyaḥcalled
  5. ātyantikaḥthe highest platform
  6. udāhṛtaḥexplained
  7. yenaby which
  8. ativrajyaovercoming
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”

  • 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

How does this teaching help me keep devotional service, rather than a separate search for liberation, as my goal?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today for uninterrupted devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, remembering that service itself is the path beyond the material modes.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Service Transcends the Material ModesThis 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 3.29.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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