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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
3.29.233.29.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.29.24

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

अहमुच्चावचैर्द्रव्यै: क्रिययोत्पन्नयानघे ।

नैव तुष्येऽर्चितोऽर्चायां भूतग्रामावमानिन: ॥ २४ ॥

aham uccāvacair dravyaiḥ

kriyayotpannayānaghe

naiva tuṣye ’rcito ’rcāyāṁ

bhūta-grāmāvamāninaḥ

Translation

My dear mother, even if he worships with proper rituals and paraphernalia, a person who is ignorant of My presence in all living entities never pleases Me by the worship of My Deities in the temple.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Offerings Must Include Compassion

  1. 1

    The real purpose of an offering is to express loving devotion; the value of the offering is secondary. The Lord is complete in Himself, so we cannot bribe Him with valuable items.

  2. 2

    We offer to show love and gratitude to the Lord, who has produced everything. Even proper rituals do not please Him when we disregard His presence in other living entities.

  3. 3

    Temple worship necessarily includes distributing prasāda as an expression of compassion. A devotee worships the Lord, befriends spiritual equals, and helps those lacking spiritual understanding.

Key points from the purport
  • A devotee should worship the Supreme Lord, be friendly to persons who are on the same level and be compassionate to the ignorant.
  • Real love and devotion is accepted by the Lord.
  • Similarly, we may offer many valuable items to the Deity, but if we have no real sense of devotion and no real sense of the Lord’s presence everywhere, then we are lacking in devotional service; in such a state of ignorance, we cannot offer anything acceptable to the Lord.

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. ahamI
  2. ucca-avacaiḥwith various
  3. dravyaiḥparaphernalia
  4. kriyayāby religious rituals
  5. utpannayāaccomplished
  6. anagheO sinless mother
  7. nanot
  8. evacertainly
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: “worships”, “devotion”, “devotee”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.29

    In this verse: “mother”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understanding”

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

Do my offerings express both love for the Lord and compassion for other living beings?

Practice

Share a small portion of prasāda with someone today, remembering that the Lord is also present in their heart.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLoving Offerings Must Include CompassionThis 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 3.29.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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