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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 31: Lord Kapila’s Instructions on the Movements of the Living Entities
3.31.113.31.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.31.12

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Personality of Godheadsince 3.31.1inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

जन्तुरुवाच

तस्योपसन्नमवितुं जगदिच्छयात्त-

नानातनोर्भुवि चलच्चरणारविन्दम् ।

सोऽहं व्रजामि शरणं ह्यकुतोभयं मे

येनेद‍ृशी गतिरदर्श्यसतोऽनुरूपा ॥ १२ ॥

jantur uvāca

tasyopasannam avituṁ jagad icchayātta-

nānā-tanor bhuvi calac-caraṇāravindam

so ’haṁ vrajāmi śaraṇaṁ hy akuto-bhayaṁ me

yenedṛśī gatir adarśy asato ’nurūpā

Translation

The human soul says: I take shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appears in His various eternal forms and walks on the surface of the world. I take shelter of Him only, because He can give me relief from all fear and from Him I have received this condition of life, which is just befitting my impious activities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Shelter Frees Us from Fear

  1. 1

    The prayer is addressed to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appears to protect the pious and destroy the impious.

  2. 2

    The Lord comes by His own will in His eternal form. He is never forced to appear by the laws of material nature.

  3. 3

    The Lord who places the living entity in a condition befitting his activities can also deliver him. One should therefore surrender at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet and return to Godhead, never to accept material birth again.

Key points from the purport
  • The word calac-caraṇāravindam refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who actually walks or travels upon the surface of the world.
  • The prayer is therefore offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who descends to the surface of this earth, or any part of this universe, for the protection of the pious and the destruction of the impious.
  • As the Supreme Lord puts the living entity into the condition of horrible existence, He can also deliver him, and therefore one should seek shelter at the lotus feet of 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 31: Lord Kapila’s Instructions on the Movements of the Living Entities

Kapila describes life in the womb, prayer, birth, forgetfulness, and continued bondage through material activities.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.31
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. jantuḥ uvācathe human soul says
  2. tasyaof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  3. upasannamhaving approached for protection
  4. avitumto protect
  5. jagatthe universe
  6. icchayāby His own will
  7. ātta-nānā-tanoḥwho accepts various forms
  8. bhuvion the earth
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.31

    In this verse: “shelter”, “surrender”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.31

    In this verse: “fear”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.31

    In this verse: “material”

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

What fear can I bring before Kṛṣṇa while seeking His shelter?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer asking for shelter at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.31's connections

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Shelter Frees Us from FearThis 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 3.31.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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