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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 30: Description by Lord Kapila of Adverse Fruitive Activities
3.30.113.30.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.30.12

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

कुटुम्बभरणाकल्पो मन्दभाग्यो वृथोद्यम: ।

श्रिया विहीन: कृपणो ध्यायञ्‍छ्वसिति मूढधी: ॥ १२ ॥

kuṭumba-bharaṇākalpo

manda-bhāgyo vṛthodyamaḥ

śriyā vihīnaḥ kṛpaṇo

dhyāyañ chvasiti mūḍha-dhīḥ

Translation

Thus the unfortunate man, unsuccessful in maintaining his family members, is bereft of all beauty. He always thinks of his failure, grieving very deeply.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Dwelling on Failure Brings Deep Grief

  1. 1

    The man is unsuccessful in maintaining his family members.

  2. 2

    In this unfortunate condition, he loses his beauty.

  3. 3

    He continually thinks of his failure and grieves deeply. His thoughts remain absorbed in what he could not accomplish.

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. kuṭumbahis family
  2. bharaṇain maintaining
  3. akalpaḥunable
  4. manda-bhāgyaḥthe unfortunate man
  5. vṛthāin vain
  6. udyamaḥwhose effort
  7. śriyābeauty, wealth
  8. vihīnaḥbereft of
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 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

Am I repeatedly dwelling on a failure in providing for others?

Practice

Take one minute to notice whether thoughts of financial failure are repeatedly occupying your mind.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDwelling on Failure Brings Deep GriefThis 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 3.30.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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