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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
3.30.203.30.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.30.21

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

तयोर्निर्भिन्नहृदयस्तर्जनैर्जातवेपथु: ।

पथि श्वभिर्भक्ष्यमाण आर्तोऽघं स्वमनुस्मरन् ॥ २१ ॥

tayor nirbhinna-hṛdayas

tarjanair jāta-vepathuḥ

pathi śvabhir bhakṣyamāṇa

ārto ’ghaṁ svam anusmaran

Translation

While carried by the constables of Yamarāja, he is overwhelmed and trembles in their hands. While passing on the road he is bitten by dogs, and he can remember the sinful activities of his life. He is thus terribly distressed.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sense Gratification Can Blind Our Judgment

  1. 1

    Overwhelmed and trembling in the hands of Yamarāja’s constables, the sinful person remembers his activities while dogs bite him on the road.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that strong attraction to sense gratification takes away intelligence. A person forgets that suffering follows sinful actions.

  3. 3

    Social encouragement does not remove the consequences of uncontrolled senses. The purport stresses the need for training in sense control.

Key points from the purport
  • It appears from this verse that while passing from this planet to the planet of Yamarāja, the culprit arrested by Yamarāja’s constables meets many dogs, which bark and bite just to remind him of his criminal activities of sense gratification.
  • Here the chance for recounting his activities of sense gratification is given by the dogs engaged by Yamarāja.
  • While we live in the gross body, such activities of sense gratification are encouraged even by modern government regulations.

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. tayoḥof the Yamadūtas
  2. nirbhinnabroken
  3. hṛdayaḥhis heart
  4. tarjanaiḥby the threatening
  5. jātaarisen
  6. vepathuḥtrembling
  7. pathion the road
  8. śvabhiḥby dogs
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.30

    In this verse: “distressed”, “suffering”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.30

    In this verse: “sinful”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

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

When does a strong desire make me forget the consequences of my actions?

Practice

Pause before acting on one strong desire today, and consider its possible consequences.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySense Gratification Can Blind Our JudgmentThis 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 3.30.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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