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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
3.30.53.30.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.30.6

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

आत्मजायासुतागारपशुद्रविणबन्धुषु ।

निरूढमूलहृदय आत्मानं बहु मन्यते ॥ ६ ॥

ātma-jāyā-sutāgāra-

paśu-draviṇa-bandhuṣu

nirūḍha-mūla-hṛdaya

ātmānaṁ bahu manyate

Translation

Such satisfaction with one’s standard of living is due to deep-rooted attraction for body, wife, home, children, animals, wealth and friends. In such association, the conditioned soul thinks himself quite perfect.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Material Attachment Is Not Spiritual Perfection

  1. 1

    Deep-rooted attraction to body, family, home, animals, wealth and friends makes the conditioned soul feel completely satisfied.

  2. 2

    This sense of having achieved perfection is a mental concoction. Material qualifications alone do not raise a person to the spiritual level.

  3. 3

    Remaining on the mental plane draws one back into temporary material existence. Satisfaction in society, friendship and love does not by itself free one from that condition.

Key points from the purport
  • This so-called perfection of human life is a concoction.
  • Therefore, it is said that the materialist, however materially qualified he may be, is worthless because he is hovering on the mental plane, which will drag him again to the material existence of temporary life.
  • In the association of so-called society, friendship and love, the conditioned soul appears completely satisfied.

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. ātmabody
  2. jāyāwife
  3. sutachildren
  4. agārahome
  5. paśuanimals
  6. draviṇawealth
  7. bandhuṣuin friends
  8. nirūḍha-mūladeep-rooted
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “friends”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.30

    In this verse: “children”

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

Do I measure perfection mainly by my possessions, relationships or material qualifications?

Practice

Write down one material condition you associate with a perfect life, and acknowledge that it cannot by itself bring spiritual advancement.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMaterial Attachment Is Not Spiritual PerfectionThis 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 3.30.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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