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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
3.29.353.29.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.29.36

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
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

एतद्भगवतो रूपं ब्रह्मण: परमात्मन: ।

परं प्रधानं पुरुषं दैवं कर्मविचेष्टितम् ॥ ३६ ॥

etad bhagavato rūpaṁ

brahmaṇaḥ paramātmanaḥ

paraṁ pradhānaṁ puruṣaṁ

daivaṁ karma-viceṣṭitam

Translation

This puruṣa whom the individual soul must approach is the eternal form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as Brahman and Paramātmā. He is the transcendental chief personality, and His activities are all spiritual.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Supreme Person’s Activities Are Transcendental

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the chief among all eternal living entities and their maintainer. He is the origin of the Brahman effulgence and the Paramātmā manifestation.

  2. 2

    Lord Kṛṣṇa declares that He is the origin of everything. His appearance, disappearance and activities are spiritual, not material.

  3. 3

    One who truly understands the Lord’s transcendental nature and activities becomes liberated. After leaving the body, such a person goes to the Supreme Person rather than returning to this material world.

Key points from the purport
  • In order to distinguish the personality whom the individual soul must approach, it is described herein that this puruṣa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the chief amongst all living entities and is the ultimate form of the impersonal Brahman effulgence and Paramātmā manifestation.
  • Janma karma ca me divyam: the activities and the appearance and disappearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are transcendental; they are not to be considered material.
  • It is confirmed here, puruṣaḥ puruṣaṁ vrajet: the living entity goes to the Supreme Personality simply by understanding His transcendental nature and activities.

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. etatthis
  2. bhagavataḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  3. rūpamform
  4. brahmaṇaḥof Brahman
  5. parama-ātmanaḥof Paramātmā
  6. paramtranscendental
  7. pradhānamchief
  8. puruṣampersonality
  9. daivamspiritual
  10. karma-viceṣṭitamwhose activities
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understands”

  • 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

Do I tend to think of the Lord’s activities as ordinary material activities?

Practice

Reread the translation and pause to remember that Kṛṣṇa’s form and activities are transcendental.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Supreme Person’s Activities Are TranscendentalThis 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 3.29.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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