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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
3.30.173.30.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.30.18

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

एवं कुटुम्बभरणे व्यापृतात्माजितेन्द्रिय: ।

म्रियते रुदतां स्वानामुरुवेदनयास्तधी: ॥ १८ ॥

evaṁ kuṭumba-bharaṇe

vyāpṛtātmājitendriyaḥ

mriyate rudatāṁ svānām

uru-vedanayāsta-dhīḥ

Translation

Thus the man, who engaged with uncontrolled senses in maintaining a family, dies in great grief, seeing his relatives crying. He dies most pathetically, in great pain and without consciousness.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Cultivate Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Throughout Life

  1. 1

    As explained in Bhagavad-gītā, one’s thoughts at death follow the thoughts cultivated throughout life. A person absorbed only in maintaining family naturally thinks of family affairs at the end.

  2. 2

    Deep family attachment can make one forget the duty of controlling the senses and improving spiritual consciousness. Even while dying, one may remain anxious about unfinished plans for family maintenance.

  3. 3

    The conditioned soul forgets his real engagement: to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. Family planning should not displace this spiritual purpose.

Key points from the purport
  • The common man does not know the destiny of his life; he is simply busy in his flash of life, maintaining his family.
  • Because of his deep family affection, he forgets his main duty of controlling the senses and improving his spiritual consciousness.
  • He completely forgets his real engagement — to become Kṛṣṇa conscious — and is always serious about planning to maintain his family, although he changes families one after another.

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. evamthus
  2. kuṭumba-bharaṇein maintaining a family
  3. vyāpṛtaengrossed
  4. ātmāhis mind
  5. ajitauncontrolled
  6. indriyaḥhis senses
  7. mriyatehe dies
  8. rudatāmwhile crying
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”, “dying”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 3.30

    In this verse: “crying”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attachment”

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 thoughts am I cultivating daily that may occupy me at death?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to consciously remember Kṛṣṇa, without attending to family or financial plans.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCultivate Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Throughout LifeThis 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 3.30.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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