1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 30: Description by Lord Kapila of Adverse Fruitive Activities
3.29.453.30.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.30.1

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Personality of Godheadsince 3.30.1inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

कपिल उवाच

तस्यैतस्य जनो नूनं नायं वेदोरुविक्रमम् ।

काल्यमानोऽपि बलिनो वायोरिव घनावलि: ॥ १ ॥

kapila uvāca

tasyaitasya jano nūnaṁ

nāyaṁ vedoru-vikramam

kālyamāno ’pi balino

vāyor iva ghanāvaliḥ

Translation

The Personality of Godhead said: As a mass of clouds does not know the powerful influence of the wind, a person engaged in material consciousness does not know the powerful strength of the time factor, by which he is being carried.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Precious Time for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

  1. 1

    A person in material consciousness is carried by time without knowing its strength, just as clouds are carried by the wind.

  2. 2

    Even one moment cannot be recovered by paying millions of dollars. We should be alert in using the valuable time available to us.

  3. 3

    Life in a particular body has a fixed duration. Within that time, we should complete our development of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and gain release from time’s influence.

Key points from the purport
  • The great politician- paṇḍita named Cāṇakya said that even one moment of time cannot be returned even if one is prepared to pay millions of dollars.
  • A conditioned soul lives in a particular body for a fixed measurement of time, and it is recommended in the scriptures that within that small measurement of time one has to finish Kṛṣṇa consciousness and thus gain release from the influence of the time factor.
  • But, unfortunately, those who are not in Kṛṣṇa consciousness are carried away by the strong power of time without their knowledge, as clouds are carried by the wind.

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 30: Description by Lord Kapila of Adverse Fruitive Activities

Kapila describes the anxiety, death, and punishment of a person absorbed in sinful material pursuits.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.30
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kapilaḥ uvācaLord Kapila said
  2. tasya etasyaof this very time factor
  3. janaḥperson
  4. nūnamcertainly
  5. nanot
  6. ayamthis
  7. vedaknows
  8. uru-vikramamthe great strength
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.30

    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

What takes up time that I could use for developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to study these teachings without distraction.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUse Precious Time for Kṛṣṇa ConsciousnessThis 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 3.30.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories