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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
3.30.63.30.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.30.7

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

सन्दह्यमानसर्वाङ्ग एषामुद्वहनाधिना ।

करोत्यविरतं मूढो दुरितानि दुराशय: ॥ ७ ॥

sandahyamāna-sarvāṅga

eṣām udvahanādhinā

karoty avirataṁ mūḍho

duritāni durāśayaḥ

Translation

Although he is always burning with anxiety, such a fool always performs all kinds of mischievous activities, with a hope which is never to be fulfilled, in order to maintain his so-called family and society.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Temporary Attachment Keeps Anxiety Burning

  1. 1

    The attached person remains full of anxiety while maintaining family and society. Hoping for fulfillment, he may continue performing sinful activities.

  2. 2

    Material family relationships change as we change bodies. Family, society and friendship here are flickering and are therefore called asat, or temporary.

  3. 3

    These relationships are reflections of the eternal family association in Kṛṣṇaloka. Without knowledge of real association with Kṛṣṇa, people remain attached to the shadows.

Key points from the purport
  • Family, society and friendship are flickering, and so they are called asat.
  • The materialists do not know that the family, society and friendship here in this material world are only shadows, and thus they become attached.
  • Naturally their hearts are always burning, but in spite of all inconvenience, they still work to maintain such false families because they have no information of the real family association with Kṛṣṇa.

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. sandahyamānaburning
  2. sarvaall
  3. aṅgaḥhis limbs
  4. eṣāmthese family members
  5. udvahanafor maintaining
  6. ādhināwith anxiety
  7. karotihe performs
  8. aviratamalways
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: “attached”, “material”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “sinful”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.30

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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 expecting permanent security from changing relationships contribute to my anxiety?

Practice

When a family worry arises today, pause and remember the distinction between temporary relationships and eternal association with Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTemporary Attachment Keeps Anxiety BurningThis 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 3.30.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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