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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
3.31.363.31.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.31.37

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

तत्सृष्टसृष्टसृष्टेषु को न्वखण्डितधी: पुमान् ।

ऋषिं नारायणमृते योषिन्मय्येह मायया ॥ ३७ ॥

tat-sṛṣṭa-sṛṣṭa-sṛṣṭeṣu

ko nv akhaṇḍita-dhīḥ pumān

ṛṣiṁ nārāyaṇam ṛte

yoṣin-mayyeha māyayā

Translation

Amongst all kinds of living entities begotten by Brahmā, namely men, demigods and animals, none but the sage Nārāyaṇa is immune to the attraction of māyā in the form of woman.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Do Not Underestimate Māyā’s Attraction

  1. 1

    The translation names the sage Nārāyaṇa as the exception to attraction by māyā in the form of woman.

  2. 2

    The purport describes sexual attraction as a basic principle of the material world, extending from Brahmā to the tiny ant.

  3. 3

    Brahmā’s attraction to his daughter illustrates how powerful this attraction is. It keeps the conditioned soul bound to material life.

Key points from the purport
  • The first living creature is Brahmā himself, and from him were created sages like Marīci, who in their turn created Kaśyapa Muni and others, and Kaśyapa Muni and the Manus created different demigods and human beings, etc. But there is none among them who is not attracted by the spell of māyā in the form of woman.
  • Lord Brahmā’s being attracted by his daughter is the vivid example that no one is exempt from sexual attraction to woman.
  • Therefore woman, is the wonderful creation of māyā to keep the conditioned soul in shackles.

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. tatby Brahmā
  2. sṛṣṭa-sṛṣṭa-sṛṣṭeṣuamongst all living entities begotten
  3. kaḥwho
  4. nuindeed
  5. akhaṇḍitanot distracted
  6. dhīḥhis intelligence
  7. pumānmale
  8. ṛṣimthe sage
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 3.31

    In this verse: “māyā”, “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

Do I underestimate the power of sexual attraction to distract my intelligence?

Practice

Notice one moment when sexual attraction draws your attention, and reflect on how it can bind the conditioned soul.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDo Not Underestimate Māyā’s AttractionThis 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 3.31.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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