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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
3.31.83.31.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.31.9

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

अकल्प: स्वाङ्गचेष्टायां शकुन्त इव पञ्जरे ।

तत्र लब्धस्मृतिर्दैवात्कर्म जन्मशतोद्भवम् ।

स्मरन्दीर्घमनुच्छ्‌वासं शर्म किं नाम विन्दते ॥ ९ ॥

akalpaḥ svāṅga-ceṣṭāyāṁ

śakunta iva pañjare

tatra labdha-smṛtir daivāt

karma janma-śatodbhavam

smaran dīrgham anucchvāsaṁ

śarma kiṁ nāma vindate

Translation

The child thus remains just like a bird in a cage, without freedom of movement. At that time, if the child is fortunate, he can remember all the troubles of his past one hundred births, and he grieves wretchedly. What is the possibility of peace of mind in that condition?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Human Life to Cross Material Existence

  1. 1

    The child lies like a caged bird, unable to move freely. If fortunate, he remembers the troubles of one hundred past births and grieves without peace of mind.

  2. 2

    Authorized scriptures such as Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam help us understand the sufferings of birth and death. Faith in these descriptions should lead us to prepare for freedom while we have this human form.

  3. 3

    The human body is an efficient boat, the spiritual master an expert captain, and scriptural instructions favorable winds. The purport strongly warns against wasting these facilities for crossing material existence.

Key points from the purport
  • After birth the child may forget about the difficulties of his past lives, but when we are grown-up we can at least understand the grievous tortures undergone at birth and death by reading the authorized scriptures like Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
  • It is said that this human form of life is the only means for crossing over the nescience of māyā, or material existence.
  • If we do not cross over the ocean of the nescience of material existence in spite of all these facilities, then certainly we are all intentionally committing suicide.

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. akalpaḥunable
  2. sva-aṅgahis limbs
  3. ceṣṭāyāmto move
  4. śakuntaḥa bird
  5. ivalike
  6. pañjarein a cage
  7. tatrathere
  8. labdha-smṛtiḥhaving gained his memory
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”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “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

How am I using the guidance and opportunity available in this human life?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam attentively as guidance toward freedom from material existence.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUse Human Life to Cross Material ExistenceThis 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 3.31.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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