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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
3.30.303.30.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.30.31

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kapilasince 3.30.29inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

एक: प्रपद्यते ध्वान्तं हित्वेदं स्वकलेवरम् ।

कुशलेतरपाथेयो भूतद्रोहेण यद्भृतम् ॥ ३१ ॥

ekaḥ prapadyate dhvāntaṁ

hitvedaṁ sva-kalevaram

kuśaletara-pātheyo

bhūta-droheṇa yad bhṛtam

Translation

He goes alone to the darkest regions of hell after quitting the present body, and the money he acquired by envying other living entities is the passage money with which he leaves this world.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Wealth for Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

  1. 1

    Money earned by unfair means may be enjoyed by family and friends, but the earner must personally suffer the sinful reactions. Those who share in its enjoyment are also partially responsible.

  2. 2

    The direct offender is more responsible than the indirect enjoyer. At death, the money stays behind, while the sinful reaction goes with the person.

  3. 3

    Possessions are best spent for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. While money is in our hands, its best use is to help us acquire Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • When a man earns money by unfair means and maintains his family and himself with that money, the money is enjoyed by many members of the family, but he alone goes to hell.
  • For example, if a man secures some money by killing someone and with that money maintains his family, those who enjoy the black money earned by him are also partially responsible and are also sent to hell, but he who is the leader is especially punished.
  • In this world also, if a person acquires some money by murdering someone, the family is not hanged, although its members are sinfully contaminated.

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. ekaḥalone
  2. prapadyatehe enters
  3. dhvāntamdarkness
  4. hitvāafter quitting
  5. idamthis
  6. svahis
  7. kalevarambody
  8. kuśala-itarasin
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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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “sinful”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.30

    In this verse: “friends”

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 could I use what I possess to support Kṛṣṇa consciousness rather than material enjoyment?

Practice

Set aside a small amount of money today for a purpose that supports Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUse Wealth for Kṛṣṇa ConsciousnessThis 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 3.30.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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