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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
3.32.103.32.12-15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.32.11

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
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

अथ तं सर्वभूतानां हृत्पद्मेषु कृतालयम् ।

श्रुतानुभावं शरणं व्रज भावेन भामिनि ॥ ११ ॥

atha taṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ

hṛt-padmeṣu kṛtālayam

śrutānubhāvaṁ śaraṇaṁ

vraja bhāvena bhāmini

Translation

Therefore, My dear mother, by devotional service take direct shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is seated in everyone’s heart.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Take Direct Shelter Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is seated in everyone’s heart. Full Kṛṣṇa consciousness allows direct contact with Him and revives our eternal loving relationship.

  2. 2

    True oneness does not mean losing our identity. Vaiṣṇavas preserve their relationship with the Lord as lover, parent, friend or servant.

  3. 3

    Lord Kapila advises Devahūti to continue directly in devotional service. Without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one cannot become liberated from the clutches of māyā.

Key points from the purport
  • One can attain direct contact with the Supreme Personality of Godhead in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness and revive one’s eternal relationship with Him as lover, as Supreme Soul, as son, as friend or as master.
  • She was already situated in that direct process because the Supreme Lord had taken birth as her son.
  • Devahūti is advised by Lord Kapila to take directly to devotional service, Kṛṣṇa consciousness, because without that consciousness one cannot become liberated from the clutches of māyā.

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. athatherefore
  2. tamthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  3. sarva-bhūtānāmof all living entities
  4. hṛt-padmeṣuin the lotus hearts
  5. kṛta-ālayamresiding
  6. śruta-anubhāvamwhose glories you have heard
  7. śaraṇamunto the shelter
  8. vrajago
  9. bhāvenaby devotional service
  10. bhāminiMy dear mother
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.32

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.32

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.32

    In this verse: “mother”

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

What does taking direct shelter of Kṛṣṇa mean for my relationship with Him?

Practice

Take a quiet minute to ask Kṛṣṇa for shelter and the opportunity to serve Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTake Direct Shelter Through 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.

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