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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 29: Explanation of Devotional Service by Lord Kapila
3.29.273.29.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.29.28

Sthāna· The universe in order
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

जीवा: श्रेष्ठा ह्यजीवानां तत: प्राणभृत: शुभे ।

त: सचित्ता: प्रवरास्ततश्चेन्द्रियवृत्तय: ॥ २८ ॥

jīvāḥ śreṣṭhā hy ajīvānāṁ

tataḥ prāṇa-bhṛtaḥ śubhe

tataḥ sa-cittāḥ pravarās

tataś cendriya-vṛttayaḥ

Translation

Living entities are superior to inanimate objects, O blessed mother, and among them, living entities who display life symptoms are better. Animals with developed consciousness are better than them, and better still are those who have developed sense perception.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Equal Regard, Thoughtful Treatment

  1. 1

    Living entities should be treated compassionately, but not all should be treated in the same way. The feeling of equality must remain while treatment is discriminating.

  2. 2

    The verse describes a progression from inanimate objects to living organisms, developed consciousness and developed sense perception.

  3. 3

    The purport describes giving prasāda to animals as an expression of compassion. Recognizing the Lord within an animal does not mean approaching it as one would a human being.

Key points from the purport
  • In the previous verse it was explained that living entities should be honored by charitable gifts and friendly behavior, and in this verse and in the following verses the description of different grades of living entities is given so that one can know when to behave friendly and when to give charity.
  • We must treat the lower living entities compassionately, but this does not mean that we have to treat them in the same way we treat other human beings.
  • Above that, the next manifestation of the living condition is development of consciousness, and the next manifestation is the development of sense perception.

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. jīvāḥliving entities
  2. śreṣṭhāḥbetter
  3. hiindeed
  4. ajīvānāmthan inanimate objects
  5. tataḥthan them
  6. prāṇa-bhṛtaḥentities with life symptoms
  7. śubheO blessed mother
  8. tataḥthan them
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.29

    In this verse: “blessed”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “mother”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.29

    In this verse: “compassionately”

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 can equal regard guide me toward appropriate, rather than identical, treatment of others?

Practice

Consider one animal you encounter today and identify a compassionate way to treat it that respects its nature.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEqual Regard, Thoughtful TreatmentThis 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 3.29.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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