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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
3.29.443.30.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.29.45

Nirodha· Winding up
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

सोऽनन्तोऽन्तकर: कालोऽनादिरादिकृदव्यय: ।

जनं जनेन जनयन्मारयन्मृत्युनान्तकम् ॥ ४५ ॥

so ’nanto ’nta-karaḥ kālo

’nādir ādi-kṛd avyayaḥ

janaṁ janena janayan

mārayan mṛtyunāntakam

Translation

The eternal time factor has no beginning and no end. It is the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the maker of the criminal world. It brings about the end of the phenomenal world, it carries on the work of creation by bringing one individual into existence from another, and likewise it dissolves the universe by destroying even the lord of death, Yamarāja.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Time Ends Material Life, Not Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Eternal time has no beginning or end and represents the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By its influence, one person brings another into existence, and death ends their lives.

  2. 2

    Even Yamarāja, the lord of death, is destroyed by time. Although the demigods may live for millions and billions of years, no one can live eternally within this material world.

  3. 3

    The material world is created, maintained and destroyed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s finger signal. A devotee therefore desires only to serve Him: the Lord, His servant and devotional service all exist eternally.

Key points from the purport
  • By the influence of eternal time, which is a representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the father begets a son, and the father dies by the influence of cruel death.
  • The phenomenal world is created, maintained and destroyed by the finger signal of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • A devotee desires only to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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. saḥthat
  2. anantaḥendless
  3. anta-karaḥdestroyer
  4. kālaḥtime
  5. anādiḥwithout beginning
  6. ādi-kṛtthe creator
  7. avyayaḥnot liable to change
  8. janampersons
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.29

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.29

    In this verse: “death”

  • 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

How can remembering that material life is temporary help me desire devotional service more deeply?

Practice

Today, pause over one material desire and offer a simple prayer asking to desire service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead instead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTime Ends Material Life, Not Devotional ServiceThis 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 3.29.45? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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