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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
3.29.373.29.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.29.38

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

योऽन्त: प्रविश्य भूतानि भूतैरत्त्यखिलाश्रय: ।

स विष्ण्वाख्योऽधियज्ञोऽसौ काल: कलयतां प्रभु: ॥ ३८ ॥

yo ’ntaḥ praviśya bhūtāni

bhūtair atty akhilāśrayaḥ

sa viṣṇv-ākhyo ’dhiyajño ’sau

kālaḥ kalayatāṁ prabhuḥ

Translation

Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the enjoyer of all sacrifices, is the time factor and the master of all masters. He enters everyone’s heart, He is the support of everyone, and He causes every being to be annihilated by another.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Viṣṇu Is Everyone’s Support and Master

  1. 1

    Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the supreme enjoyer and the enjoyer of all sacrifices. All others work as His servants.

  2. 2

    Even Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and the other demigods are servants of the Supreme Lord. He is the master of all masters.

  3. 3

    Viṣṇu enters everyone’s heart as Paramātmā and supports everyone. As the time factor, He causes one being to be annihilated through another.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is clearly described in this passage.
  • As stated in the Caitanya caritāmṛta (Ādi 5.14), ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa: the only Supreme Lord is Viṣṇu.
  • The same Viṣṇu enters everyone’s heart as Paramātmā, and He causes the annihilation of every being through another being.

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. yaḥHe who
  2. antaḥwithin
  3. praviśyaentering
  4. bhūtāniliving entities
  5. bhūtaiḥby living entities
  6. attiannihilates
  7. akhilaof everyone
  8. āśrayaḥthe support
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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

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 seeing myself as the Lord’s servant affect my sense of independence?

Practice

Before one task today, pause and remember that your position is to serve the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayViṣṇu Is Everyone’s Support and MasterThis 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.

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