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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
3.31.243.31.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.31.25

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

परच्छन्दं न विदुषा पुष्यमाणो जनेन स: ।

अनभिप्रेतमापन्न: प्रत्याख्यातुमनीश्वर: ॥ २५ ॥

para-cchandaṁ na viduṣā

puṣyamāṇo janena saḥ

anabhipretam āpannaḥ

pratyākhyātum anīśvaraḥ

Translation

After coming out of the abdomen, the child is given to the care of persons who are unable to understand what he wants, and thus he is nursed by such persons. Unable to refuse whatever is given to him, he falls into undesirable circumstances.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Dependent on Care, Unable to Refuse

  1. 1

    Within the womb, the child’s nourishment was supplied by nature’s arrangement, although his surroundings were unpleasant.

  2. 2

    After birth, the child depends on people who may not understand what he wants. He may receive something quite different from what he needs.

  3. 3

    Unable to refuse what is given, the child falls into awkward and undesirable circumstances. His suffering continues despite being cared for.

Key points from the purport
  • Within the abdomen of the mother, the nourishment of the child was being carried on by nature’s own arrangement.
  • But upon coming out of the abdomen the child falls into a different atmosphere.
  • The child does not want it, but he cannot refuse it.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. para-chandamthe desire of another
  2. nanot
  3. viduṣāunderstanding
  4. puṣyamāṇaḥbeing maintained
  5. janenaby persons
  6. saḥhe
  7. anabhipretaminto undesirable circumstances
  8. āpannaḥfallen
  9. pratyākhyātumto refuse
  10. anīśvaraḥunable
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “child”, “child’s”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.31

    In this verse: “suffering”

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 be more attentive to someone who cannot clearly express a need?

Practice

Before offering help to someone today, pause to understand what that person actually needs.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDependent on Care, Unable to RefuseThis 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 3.31.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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