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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 32: Entanglement in Fruitive Activities
3.32.223.32.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.32.23

Mukti· Liberation
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

वासुदेवे भगवति भक्तियोग: प्रयोजित: ।

जनयत्याशु वैराग्यं ज्ञानं यद्ब्रह्मदर्शनम् ॥ २३ ॥

vāsudeve bhagavati

bhakti-yogaḥ prayojitaḥ

janayaty āśu vairāgyaṁ

jñānaṁ yad brahma-darśanam

Translation

Engagement in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and application of devotional service unto Kṛṣṇa make it possible to advance in knowledge and detachment, as well as in self-realization.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Brings Knowledge and Detachment

  1. 1

    Devotional service to Kṛṣṇa produces knowledge, detachment and self-realization. A devotee does not need to pursue detachment separately or wait for transcendental knowledge to awaken.

  2. 2

    Steady devotional service allows good qualities to develop automatically. The purport illustrates this with a hunter who became unwilling to kill even an ant after becoming a devotee.

  3. 3

    Brahma-darśanam means realizing the Transcendence and seeing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva. Through His service, a devotee also understands Brahman without a separate investigation.

Key points from the purport
  • But the fact is that if one engages in the devotional service of the Lord in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he does not have to attempt separately to practice detachment or to wait for an awakening of transcendental knowledge.
  • It is said that one who engages unflinchingly in the devotional service of the Lord actually has all the good qualities of the demigods develop in him automatically.
  • One who engages in the service of Vāsudeva can actually realize what Brahman is.

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. vāsudeveunto Kṛṣṇa
  2. bhagavatithe Personality of Godhead
  3. bhakti-yogaḥdevotional service
  4. prayojitaḥdischarged
  5. janayatiproduces
  6. āśuvery soon
  7. vairāgyamdetachment
  8. jñānamknowledge
  9. yatwhich
  10. brahma-darśanamself-realization
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.32

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understands”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 3.32

    In this verse: “detachment”

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 trust devotional service to nourish knowledge and detachment, or think I must first achieve them independently?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today specifically for devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, without waiting to feel more knowledgeable or detached.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Brings Knowledge and DetachmentThis 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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