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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 31: Lord Kapila’s Instructions on the Movements of the Living Entities
3.31.133.31.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.31.14

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

य: पञ्चभूतरचिते रहित: शरीरे

च्छन्नोऽयथेन्द्रियगुणार्थचिदात्मकोऽहम् ।

तेनाविकुण्ठमहिमानमृषिं तमेनं

वन्दे परं प्रकृतिपूरुषयो: पुमांसम् ॥ १४ ॥

yaḥ pañca-bhūta-racite rahitaḥ śarīre

cchanno ’yathendriya-guṇārtha-cid-ātmako ’ham

tenāvikuṇṭha-mahimānam ṛṣiṁ tam enaṁ

vande paraṁ prakṛti-pūruṣayoḥ pumāṁsam

Translation

I am separated from the Supreme Lord because of my being in this material body, which is made of five elements, and therefore my qualities and senses are being misused, although I am essentially spiritual. Because the Supreme Personality of Godhead is transcendental to material nature and the living entities, because He is devoid of such a material body, and because He is always glorious in His spiritual qualities, I offer my obeisances unto Him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Purifies Our Spiritual Nature

  1. 1

    The living entity can come under material nature, but the Supreme Personality of Godhead always remains above it. Material nature is under His control and cannot control Him.

  2. 2

    When freed from material contamination, the living entity shares the Lord’s spiritual quality. Yet the soul remains quantitatively different and is never equal to the Lord in power.

  3. 3

    Devotional service purifies material contamination and brings one to the spiritual platform. This liberation is achieved through Kṛṣṇa consciousness, beginning with surrender.

Key points from the purport
  • The difference between the living entity and the Supreme Personality of Godhead is that the living entity is prone to be subjected to material nature, whereas the Supreme Godhead is always transcendental to material nature as well as to the living entities.
  • Material nature is always under His control, and it is therefore not possible that material nature can control the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Since the identity of the living entity is very minute, he is prone to be subjected to material nature, but when he is freed from this material body, which is false, he attains the same spiritual nature as the Supreme Lord.

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. yaḥwho
  2. pañca-bhūtafive gross elements
  3. racitemade of
  4. rahitaḥseparated
  5. śarīrein the material body
  6. channaḥcovered
  7. ayathāunfitly
  8. indriyasenses
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.31

    In this verse: “purifies”, “contamination”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 3.31

    In this verse: “separated”

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 can I use my senses in service rather than allowing material desires to direct them?

Practice

Offer respectful obeisances to the Supreme Person, asking to use your senses in His service today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Purifies Our Spiritual NatureThis 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.

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