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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 30: Description by Lord Kapila of Adverse Fruitive Activities
3.30.133.30.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.30.14

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

तत्राप्यजातनिर्वेदो भ्रियमाण: स्वयम्भृतै: ।

जरयोपात्तवैरूप्यो मरणाभिमुखो गृहे ॥ १४ ॥

tatrāpy ajāta-nirvedo

bhriyamāṇaḥ svayam bhṛtaiḥ

jarayopātta-vairūpyo

maraṇābhimukho gṛhe

Translation

The foolish family man does not become averse to family life although he is maintained by those whom he once maintained. Deformed by the influence of old age, he prepares himself to meet ultimate death.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve the Lord While Still Strong

  1. 1

    Family attraction can remain strong even when a person is neglected and maintained by those he once supported.

  2. 2

    The purport advises turning from family life to complete service of the Lord before weakness, disease and frustration in material activities arrive.

  3. 3

    The Vedic course described is to leave family life after fifty, live alone in the forest and prepare for becoming a sannyāsī. The purpose is to distribute spiritual knowledge to every home.

Key points from the purport
  • Family attraction is so strong that even if one is neglected by family members in his old age, he cannot give up family affection, and he remains at home just like a dog.
  • In the Vedic way of life one has to give up family life when he is strong enough.
  • After preparing himself fully, he should become a sannyāsī to distribute the knowledge of spiritual life to each and every home.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatrathere
  2. apialthough
  3. ajātanot arisen
  4. nirvedaḥaversion
  5. bhriyamāṇaḥbeing maintained
  6. svayamby himself
  7. bhṛtaiḥby those who were maintained
  8. jarayāby old age
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.30

    In this verse: “death”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.30

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • 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

Am I postponing service to the Lord until my strength is gone?

Practice

Reserve a short period for serving the Lord today instead of putting it off until later life.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServe the Lord While Still StrongThis 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 3.30.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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