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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
3.29.193.29.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.29.20

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

यथा वातरथो घ्राणमावृङ्क्ते गन्ध आशयात् ।

एवं योगरतं चेत आत्मानमविकारि यत् ॥ २० ॥

yathā vāta-ratho ghrāṇam

āvṛṅkte gandha āśayāt

evaṁ yoga-rataṁ ceta

ātmānam avikāri yat

Translation

As the chariot of air carries an aroma from its source and immediately catches the sense of smell, similarly, one who constantly engages in devotional service, in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, can catch the Supreme Soul, who is equally present everywhere.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Reveals the Supersoul Everywhere

  1. 1

    Just as a breeze carries fragrance to the sense of smell, consciousness saturated with devotion can perceive the transcendental presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    In His Paramātmā feature, the Lord is present everywhere, including every living being’s heart. Unlike the individual soul, who occupies one particular body, the Supersoul is equally present in every body and remains unchanging.

  3. 3

    Through devotional service in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He can be understood both as the Supersoul and as the Supreme Person.

Key points from the purport
  • As a breeze carrying a pleasant fragrance from a garden of flowers at once captures the organ of smell, so one’s consciousness, saturated with devotion, can at once capture the transcendental existence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who, in His Paramātmā feature, is present everywhere, even in the heart of every living being.
  • The individual soul, when fully saturated with Kṛṣṇa consciousness, can understand the presence of the Supersoul.
  • It is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā that (bhaktyā mām abhijānāti) a person saturated with devotional service in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, either as Supersoul or as the Supreme Person.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yathāas
  2. vātaof air
  3. rathaḥthe chariot
  4. ghrāṇamsense of smell
  5. āvṛṅktecatches
  6. gandhaḥaroma
  7. āśayātfrom the source
  8. evamsimilarly
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”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.29

    In this verse: “understand”

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 might remembering the Supersoul’s presence in every heart deepen my devotional service?

Practice

During one act of devotional service today, pause to remember that the Lord is present in your heart and in every other living being’s heart.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Reveals the Supersoul EverywhereThis 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 3.29.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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