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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
3.30.213.30.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.30.22

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

क्षुत्तृट्परीतोऽर्कदवानलानिलै:

सन्तप्यमान: पथि तप्तवालुके ।

कृच्छ्रेण पृष्ठे कशया च ताडितश्

चलत्यशक्तोऽपि निराश्रमोदके ॥ २२ ॥

kṣut-tṛṭ-parīto ’rka-davānalānilaiḥ

santapyamānaḥ pathi tapta-vāluke

kṛcchreṇa pṛṣṭhe kaśayā ca tāḍitaś

calaty aśakto ’pi nirāśramodake

Translation

Under the scorching sun, the criminal has to pass through roads of hot sand with forest fires on both sides. He is whipped on the back by the constables because of his inability to walk, and he is afflicted by hunger and thirst, but unfortunately there is no drinking water, no shelter and no place for rest on the road.

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.

A Road Without Relief

  1. 1

    The criminal travels over hot sand under the scorching sun, with forest fires on both sides.

  2. 2

    Although he can barely walk, the constables whip him on the back and force him onward.

  3. 3

    He suffers hunger and thirst, but there is no drinking water, shelter or place to rest.

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. kṣut-tṛṭby hunger and thirst
  2. parītaḥafflicted
  3. arkasun
  4. dava-analaforest fires
  5. anilaiḥby winds
  6. santapyamānaḥbeing scorched
  7. pathion a road
  8. tapta-vālukeof hot sand
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

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.30

    In this verse: “shelter”

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

How does this description challenge my tendency to overlook the suffering that follows sinful actions?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute reflecting on the absence of water, shelter and rest described here.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Road Without ReliefThis 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 3.30.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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