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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 32: Entanglement in Fruitive Activities
3.32.203.32.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.32.21

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

ततस्ते क्षीणसुकृता: पुनर्लोकमिमं सति ।

पतन्ति विवशा देवै: सद्यो विभ्रंशितोदया: ॥ २१ ॥

tatas te kṣīṇa-sukṛtāḥ

punar lokam imaṁ sati

patanti vivaśā devaiḥ

sadyo vibhraṁśitodayāḥ

Translation

When the results of their pious activities are exhausted, they fall down by higher arrangement and again come back to this planet, just as any person raised to a high position sometimes all of a sudden falls.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Abode Is Beyond Falling

  1. 1

    When the results of pious activities are exhausted, enjoyment in higher planets ends. By higher arrangement, one helplessly returns to this planet.

  2. 2

    Even elevation to Brahmaloka does not prevent a return. Material advancement can end suddenly, like the loss of a high government position.

  3. 3

    A devotee who reaches the spiritual kingdom does not fall back into conditioned material existence. Kṛṣṇa confirms that anyone who attains His abode never returns.

Key points from the purport
  • It is sometimes found that a person elevated to a very high position in government service falls down all of a sudden, and no one can check him.
  • Similarly, after finishing their period of enjoyment, foolish persons who are very much interested in being elevated to the position of president in higher planets also fall down to this planet.
  • The distinction between the elevated position of a devotee and that of an ordinary person attracted to fruitive activities is that when a devotee is elevated to the spiritual kingdom he never falls down, whereas an ordinary person falls, even if he is elevated to the highest planetary system, Brahmaloka.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 3.32.21 quotesBG 8.16

But Kṛṣṇa confirms in Bhagavad-gītā (8.16), mām upetya tu kaunteya punar janma na vidyate: “Anyone who attains My abode never comes back to this conditioned life of material existence.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. tataḥthen
  2. tethey
  3. kṣīṇaexhausted
  4. su-kṛtāḥresults of their pious activities
  5. punaḥagain
  6. lokam imamto this planet
  7. satiO virtuous mother
  8. patantifall
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.32

    In this verse: “kingdom”, “government”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.32

    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

Am I placing my hope in a temporary position or in attaining Kṛṣṇa’s abode?

Practice

Take one minute to reflect on the temporary nature of a position you desire and renew your intention to pursue devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Abode Is Beyond FallingThis 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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