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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
3.31.423.31.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.31.43

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

देहेन जीवभूतेन लोकाल्लोकमनुव्रजन् ।

भुञ्जान एव कर्माणि करोत्यविरतं पुमान् ॥ ४३ ॥

dehena jīva-bhūtena

lokāl lokam anuvrajan

bhuñjāna eva karmāṇi

karoty avirataṁ pumān

Translation

Due to his particular type of body, the materialistic living entity wanders from one planet to another, following fruitive activities. In this way, he involves himself in fruitive activities and enjoys the result incessantly.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Nurture the Seed of Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Bound by fruitive activities, the living entity changes bodies and wanders through different species and planets. In this bodily condition, he is called jīva-bhūta.

  2. 2

    By Kṛṣṇa's grace, contact with a bona fide spiritual master gives one the seed of devotional service. Hearing and chanting water this seed within the heart.

  3. 3

    One who is freed from material designations and fully engaged in devotional service is liberated. This is the brahma-bhūta stage, which can be attained even in this material world.

Key points from the purport
  • When the living entity is encaged in the material body, he is called jīva-bhūta, and when he is free from the material body he is called brahma-bhūta.
  • By changing his material body birth after birth, he travels not only in the different species of life, but also from one planet to another.
  • Lord Caitanya says that the living entities, bound up by fruitive activities, are wandering in this way throughout the whole universe, and if by some chance or by pious activities they get in touch with a bona fide spiritual master, by the grace of Kṛṣṇa, then they get the seed of devotional service.

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. dehenaon account of the body
  2. jīva-bhūtenapossessed by the living entity
  3. lokātfrom one planet
  4. lokamto another planet
  5. anuvrajanwandering
  6. bhuñjānaḥenjoying
  7. evaso
  8. karmāṇifruitive activities
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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: “materialistic”, “material”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.31

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

  • 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 regularly am I watering the seed of devotional service?

Practice

Give five minutes today to hearing and chanting about Kṛṣṇa.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNurture the Seed of Devotional ServiceThis 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 3.31.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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