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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
3.32.12-153.32.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.32.16

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

ये त्विहासक्तमनस: कर्मसु श्रद्धयान्विता: ।

कुर्वन्त्यप्रतिषिद्धानि नित्यान्यपि च कृत्स्‍नश: ॥ १६ ॥

ye tv ihāsakta-manasaḥ

karmasu śraddhayānvitāḥ

kurvanty apratiṣiddhāni

nityāny api ca kṛtsnaśaḥ

Translation

Persons who are too addicted to this material world execute their prescribed duties very nicely and with great faith. They daily perform all such prescribed duties with attachment to the fruitive result.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Faithful Duties Can Still Bind

  1. 1

    Materially attached people may perform prescribed duties carefully and with great faith. Yet they remain attached to the results.

  2. 2

    Vedic sacrifices, rituals and daily regulations can elevate those seeking material enjoyment to heavenly planets. Such attachment does not bring liberation.

  3. 3

    Worshiping demigods as separate Gods does not elevate one to the spiritual world. Neither does attachment to duties performed simply to improve material conditions.

Key points from the purport
  • In this and the following six verses, the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam criticizes persons who are too materially attached.
  • It is stated in this verse that such persons cannot be liberated at any time.
  • Those who worship demigods with the consciousness that each and every demigod is a separate God cannot be elevated to the spiritual world, what to speak of persons who are simply attached to duties for the upliftment of their material condition.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yethose who
  2. tubut
  3. ihain this world
  4. āsaktaaddicted
  5. manasaḥwhose minds
  6. karmasuto fruitive activities
  7. śraddhayāwith faith
  8. anvitāḥendowed
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: “attachment”, “material”, “attached”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duties”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiping”

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

Am I measuring the value of my duties only by the material results they bring?

Practice

Identify one duty you perform today and write down the result you feel most attached to.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFaithful Duties Can Still BindThis 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 3.32.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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