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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 32: Entanglement in Fruitive Activities
3.31.483.32.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.32.1

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Personality of Godheadsince 3.32.1inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

कपिल उवाच

अथ यो गृहमेधीयान्धर्मानेवावसन्गृहे ।

काममर्थं च धर्मान्स्वान्दोग्धि भूय: पिपर्ति तान् ॥ १ ॥

kapila uvāca

atha yo gṛha-medhīyān

dharmān evāvasan gṛhe

kāmam arthaṁ ca dharmān svān

dogdhi bhūyaḥ piparti tān

Translation

The Personality of Godhead said: The person who lives in the center of household life derives material benefits by performing religious rituals, and thereby he fulfills his desire for economic development and sense gratification. Again and again he acts the same way.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Make Self-Realization the Aim of Home Life

  1. 1

    A gṛhamedhī makes sense gratification the goal of household life. Religious rituals, charity and hard work are used for material prosperity.

  2. 2

    Even wealth and heavenly enjoyment do not end repeated birth and death. The gṛhamedhī repeatedly experiences material suffering but does not want to give up this way of life.

  3. 3

    A gṛhastha lives with family without attachment. The chief aim is self-realization, or coming to the standard of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • Here the Lord is speaking about the gṛhamedhī, or the person who wants to remain in this material world.
  • His activity is to enjoy material benefits by performing religious rituals for economic development and thereby ultimately satisfy the senses.
  • Again and again they experience the material pangs, even if they are rich and prosperous, but they do not want to give up this kind of life.

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 32: Entanglement in Fruitive Activities

Kapila contrasts temporary material rewards with the knowledge and detachment gained through devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.32
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kapilaḥ uvācaLord Kapila said
  2. athanow
  3. yaḥthe person who
  4. gṛha-medhīyānof the householders
  5. dharmānduties
  6. evacertainly
  7. āvasanliving
  8. gṛheat home
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 3.32

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “household”, “material”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.32

    In this verse: “religious”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 3.32

    In this verse: “give up”

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

Is my household life mainly directed toward material comfort or Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Practice

Before one household task today, pause and remember that the aim of family life is Kṛṣṇa consciousness, not merely comfort.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.32's connections

Live this todayMake Self-Realization the Aim of Home LifeThis 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 3.32.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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