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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
3.29.53.29.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.29.6

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.29.6inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

मैत्रेय उवाच

इति मातुर्वच: श्लक्ष्णं प्रतिनन्द्य महामुनि: ।

आबभाषे कुरुश्रेष्ठ प्रीतस्तां करुणार्दित: ॥ ६ ॥

maitreya uvāca

iti mātur vacaḥ ślakṣṇaṁ

pratinandya mahā-muniḥ

ābabhāṣe kuru-śreṣṭha

prītas tāṁ karuṇārditaḥ

Translation

Śrī Maitreya said: O best amongst the Kurus, the great sage Kapila, moved by great compassion and pleased by the words of His glorious mother, spoke as follows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Compassion for Others Pleases the Lord

  1. 1

    Lord Kapila was pleased because His mother sought not only her own salvation but also the deliverance of all fallen conditioned souls.

  2. 2

    The Lord is always compassionate toward fallen souls. He comes Himself or sends His confidential servants to deliver them.

  3. 3

    Devotees who share this compassion are very pleasing to Him. Those who teach full surrender to the Personality of Godhead are very dear to the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kapila was very satisfied by the request of His glorious mother because she was thinking not only in terms of her personal salvation but in terms of all the fallen conditioned souls.
  • The Lord is always compassionate towards the fallen souls of this material world, and therefore He comes Himself or sends His confidential servants to deliver them.
  • Thus when the Lord saw that His beloved mother was very compassionate towards the fallen souls, He was pleased, and He also became compassionate towards her.

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. maitreyaḥ uvācaMaitreya said
  2. itithus
  3. mātuḥof His mother
  4. vacaḥthe words
  5. ślakṣṇamgentle
  6. pratinandyawelcoming
  7. mahā-muniḥthe great sage Kapila
  8. ābabhāṣespoke
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “compassion”, “compassionate”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “mother”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

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

Does my spiritual concern include others as well as myself?

Practice

Share this teaching about surrender to the Personality of Godhead with one person who is willing to hear.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCompassion for Others Pleases the LordThis 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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