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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
3.32.173.32.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.32.18

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

त्रैवर्गिकास्ते पुरुषा विमुखा हरिमेधस: ।

कथायां कथनीयोरुविक्रमस्य मधुद्विष: ॥ १८ ॥

trai-vargikās te puruṣā

vimukhā hari-medhasaḥ

kathāyāṁ kathanīyoru-

vikramasya madhudviṣaḥ

Translation

Such persons are called trai-vargika because they are interested in the three elevating processes. They are averse to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who can give relief to the conditioned soul. They are not interested in the Supreme Personality’s pastimes, which are worth hearing because of His transcendental prowess.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Become Interested in the Lord’s Activities

  1. 1

    Trai-vargika describes those interested in religious rituals, economic elevation and sense enjoyment. They use prescribed duties and prosperity to increase material enjoyment.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead can deliver the conditioned soul from birth and death. Yet materially absorbed people are uninterested in Him and His marvelous pastimes.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s activities are factual and transcendental, not imaginary stories or ordinary human actions. Aversion to hearing them obstructs advancement in devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • Materialistic persons are therefore interested in those elevating processes, which are called trai-vargika.
  • Materialistic persons are never interested in hearing about the marvelous pastimes of the Lord.
  • But materialistic persons who engage in elevating their position in the material world are not interested in such activities of the Lord.

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. trai-vargikāḥinterested in the three elevating processes
  2. tethose
  3. puruṣāḥpersons
  4. vimukhāḥnot interested
  5. hari-medhasaḥof Lord Hari
  6. kathāyāmin the pastimes
  7. kathanīyaworth chanting of
  8. uru-vikramasyawhose excellent prowess
  9. madhu-dviṣaḥthe killer of the Madhu demon
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.32

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religious”, “duties”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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 give more attention to material success stories than to the activities of the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Spend five minutes reading about the Lord’s activities in Bhagavad-gītā or Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBecome Interested in the Lord’s ActivitiesThis 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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