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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
3.32.263.32.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.32.27

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

एतावानेव योगेन समग्रेणेह योगिन: ।

युज्यतेऽभिमतो ह्यर्थो यदसङ्गस्तु कृत्स्‍नश: ॥ २७ ॥

etāvān eva yogena

samagreṇeha yoginaḥ

yujyate ’bhimato hy artho

yad asaṅgas tu kṛtsnaśaḥ

Translation

The greatest common understanding for all yogīs is complete detachment from matter, which can be achieved by different kinds of yoga.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Give the Senses a Higher Engagement

  1. 1

    Bhakti-yoga, jñāna-yoga and aṣṭāṅga-yoga all seek freedom from material entanglement. Their final aims, however, differ.

  2. 2

    Devotees engage their senses in the Lord’s service rather than merely trying to restrain them. This is the easiest and most direct process.

  3. 3

    The senses cannot simply be stopped; they need a superior engagement. Transcendental loving service to the Lord is the perfect stage of sense control.

Key points from the purport
  • The devotees, however, try to engage the senses in the service of the Lord.
  • Therefore it appears that the activities of the bhaktas, devotees, are better than those of the jñānīs and yogīs.
  • The supreme engagement is engagement of the senses in the service 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. etāvānof such a measure
  2. evajust
  3. yogenaby yoga practice
  4. samagreṇaall
  5. ihain this world
  6. yoginaḥof the yogī
  7. yujyateis achieved
  8. abhimataḥdesired
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: “devotees”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “detachment”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understanding”

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

Which of your senses could you give a higher engagement in the Lord’s service today?

Practice

Set aside five minutes to use one sense deliberately in the Lord’s service rather than for material enjoyment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGive the Senses a Higher EngagementThis 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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