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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
3.31.233.31.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.31.24

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kapilasince 3.31.22inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

पतितो भुव्यसृङ्‌मिश्र: विष्ठाभूरिव चेष्टते ।

रोरूयति गते ज्ञाने विपरीतां गतिं गत: ॥ २४ ॥

patito bhuvy asṛṅ-miśraḥ

viṣṭhā-bhūr iva ceṣṭate

rorūyati gate jñāne

viparītāṁ gatiṁ gataḥ

Translation

The child thus falls on the ground, smeared with stool and blood, and plays just like a worm germinated from the stool. He loses his superior knowledge and cries under the spell of māyā.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Superior Knowledge Lost Under Māyā

  1. 1

    After birth, the child falls on the ground smeared with stool and blood.

  2. 2

    The verse compares his movements to those of a worm arising from stool, emphasizing his helpless bodily condition.

  3. 3

    His superior knowledge is lost, and he cries under the spell of māyā.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. patitaḥfallen
  2. bhuvion the earth
  3. asṛkwith blood
  4. miśraḥsmeared
  5. viṣṭhā-bhūḥa worm
  6. ivalike
  7. ceṣṭatehe moves his limbs
  8. rorūyaticries loudly
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.31

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “māyā”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.31

    In this verse: “child”

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 does this loss of superior knowledge show me about the influence of māyā?

Practice

Reread the verse slowly and reflect for a moment on the child’s helplessness and loss of knowledge.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySuperior Knowledge Lost Under MāyāThis 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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