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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
3.32.213.32.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.32.22

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

तस्मात्त्वं सर्वभावेन भजस्व परमेष्ठिनम् ।

तद्गुणाश्रयया भक्त्या भजनीयपदाम्बुजम् ॥ २२ ॥

tasmāt tvaṁ sarva-bhāvena

bhajasva parameṣṭhinam

tad-guṇāśrayayā bhaktyā

bhajanīya-padāmbujam

Translation

My dear mother, I therefore advise that you take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for His lotus feet are worth worshiping. Accept this with all devotion and love, for thus you can be situated in transcendental devotional service.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Worship Kṛṣṇa With Devotion and Love

  1. 1

    Lord Kapila advises taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His lotus feet are worthy of worship, rather than seeking shelter in even the highest demigods.

  2. 2

    Sarva-bhāvena means “in all-loving ecstasy.” Bhāva is the preliminary stage before attaining pure love of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Devotional service in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness is transcendental and free from material qualities. It is the only means of attaining the highest perfection of human life.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kapiladeva advises His mother that she should take shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, because it is worthwhile.
  • This means that discharging devotional service unto Kṛṣṇa is transcendental; it is not material activity.
  • By taking shelter under the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, one is endowed with both kinds of prosperity, material and spiritual.

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. tasmāttherefore
  2. tvamyou (Devahūti)
  3. sarva-bhāvenawith loving ecstasy
  4. bhajasvaworship
  5. parameṣṭhinamthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. tat-guṇathe qualities of the Lord
  7. āśrayayāconnected with
  8. bhaktyāby devotional service
  9. bhajanīyaworshipable
  10. pada-ambujamwhose lotus feet
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”, “worshiping”, “worship”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 3.32

    In this verse: “love”, “ecstasy”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

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

    In this verse: “shelter”

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

How can I approach worship with more love rather than merely seeking material advancement?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Kṛṣṇa expressing your wish to take shelter of His lotus feet and serve Him with love.

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 todayWorship Kṛṣṇa With Devotion and LoveThis 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 3.32.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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