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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
3.31.63.31.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.31.7

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Personality of Godheadsince 3.31.1inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

कटुतीक्ष्णोष्णलवणरूक्षाम्‍लादिभिरुल्बणै: ।

मातृभुक्तैरुपस्पृष्ट: सर्वाङ्गोत्थितवेदन: ॥ ७ ॥

kaṭu-tīkṣṇoṣṇa-lavaṇa-

rūkṣāmlādibhir ulbaṇaiḥ

mātṛ-bhuktair upaspṛṣṭaḥ

sarvāṅgotthita-vedanaḥ

Translation

Owing to the mother’s eating bitter, pungent foodstuffs, or food which is too salty or too sour, the body of the child incessantly suffers pains which are almost intolerable.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Tolerance Does Not Mean Freedom From Suffering

  1. 1

    The translation describes the child suffering nearly intolerable pain from the mother’s bitter, pungent, excessively salty or sour food.

  2. 2

    The purport says the child’s situation is beyond our conception. Although remaining in that condition is very difficult, the child must remain.

  3. 3

    Because the child’s consciousness is not very developed, he can tolerate the condition. The purport calls this māyā’s benediction: giving the suffering body the capacity to endure.

Key points from the purport
  • All descriptions of the child’s bodily situation in the womb of the mother are beyond our conception.
  • It is very difficult to remain in such a position, but still the child has to remain.
  • Because his consciousness is not very developed, the child can tolerate it, otherwise he would die.

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. kaṭubitter
  2. tīkṣṇapungent
  3. uṣṇahot
  4. lavaṇasalty
  5. rūkṣadry
  6. amlasour
  7. ādibhiḥand so on
  8. ulbaṇaiḥexcessive
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: “mother’s”, “child”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “māyā’s”

  • 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

Do I sometimes overlook suffering simply because someone is able to endure it?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute reflecting that the ability to tolerate pain does not make the pain insignificant.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTolerance Does Not Mean Freedom From SufferingThis 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 3.31.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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