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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
3.31.373.31.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.31.38

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

बलं मे पश्य मायाया: स्त्रीमय्या जयिनो दिशाम् ।

या करोति पदाक्रान्तान्भ्रूविजृम्भेण केवलम् ॥ ३८ ॥

balaṁ me paśya māyāyāḥ

strī-mayyā jayino diśām

yā karoti padākrāntān

bhrūvi-jṛmbheṇa kevalam

Translation

Just try to understand the mighty strength of My māyā in the shape of woman, who by the mere movement of her eyebrows can keep even the greatest conquerors of the world under her grip.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Higher Attraction Frees Us from Material Bondage

  1. 1

    Māyā’s captivating power can overcome even great conquerors. All energies ultimately come from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is not captivated by material beauty. Rādhārāṇī is the manifestation of His internal pleasure potency, through whom He enjoys transcendental pleasure.

  3. 3

    Attraction to the transcendental beauty of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa frees one from material attraction. Haridāsa Ṭhākura’s steadfast devotional service illustrates this freedom.

Key points from the purport
  • The captivating power of woman, and man’s susceptibility to such attraction, must also exist in the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the spiritual world and must be represented in the transcendental pastimes of the Lord.
  • Now the question is, if He wants to be captivated by such womanly attraction, would He be attracted by any material woman?
  • When we are attracted by Madana-mohana and the beauty of Kṛṣṇa and His consorts, then the shackles of conditioned life, namely the beauty of a material woman, cannot attract us.

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. balamthe strength
  2. meMy
  3. paśyabehold
  4. māyāyāḥof māyā
  5. strī-mayyāḥin the shape of a woman
  6. jayinaḥconquerors
  7. diśāmof all directions
  8. yāwho
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”, “māyā’s”, “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.31

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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 give more attention to the beauty of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa rather than material beauty?

Practice

Spend a few quiet minutes today remembering the beauty of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa and Their transcendental relationship.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHigher Attraction Frees Us from Material BondageThis 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 3.31.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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