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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
3.29.63.29.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.29.7

Mukti· Liberation
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

श्रीभगवानुवाच

भक्तियोगो बहुविधो मार्गैर्भामिनि भाव्यते ।

स्वभावगुणमार्गेण पुंसां भावो विभिद्यते ॥ ७ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

bhakti-yogo bahu-vidho

mārgair bhāmini bhāvyate

svabhāva-guṇa-mārgeṇa

puṁsāṁ bhāvo vibhidyate

Translation

Lord Kapila, the Personality of Godhead, replied: O noble lady, there are multifarious paths of devotional service in terms of the different qualities of the executor.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Devotion Makes No Demands

  1. 1

    Lord Kapila, the Personality of Godhead, explains that devotional service appears in different forms according to the qualities of those practicing it.

  2. 2

    Pure devotional service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is one, because the devotee makes no demand for the Lord to fulfill.

  3. 3

    People may approach the Lord for relief from distress, financial improvement, or knowledge of the Absolute Truth. The path itself is one, but it appears varied according to the devotee's condition.

Key points from the purport
  • Pure devotional service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is one because in pure devotional service there is no demand from the devotee to be fulfilled by the Lord.
  • But generally people take to devotional service with a purpose.
  • Actually the path of devotional service is one without a second, but according to the devotees’ condition, devotional service appears in multifarious varieties, as will be nicely explained in the following verses.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 3.29.7 quotesBG 7.16

This is very nicely described in Bhagavad-gītā (7.16).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Personality of Godhead replied
  2. bhakti-yogaḥdevotional service
  3. bahu-vidhaḥmultifarious
  4. mārgaiḥwith paths
  5. bhāminiO noble lady
  6. bhāvyateis manifest
  7. svabhāvanature
  8. guṇaqualities
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “absolute truth”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “distress”

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

What am I hoping to receive when I approach the Lord?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and try to serve without asking the Lord for a personal benefit.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Devotion Makes No DemandsThis 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 3.29.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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