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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
3.32.293.32.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.32.30

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

एतद्वै श्रद्धया भक्त्या योगाभ्यासेन नित्यश: ।

समाहितात्मा नि:सङ्गो विरक्त्या परिपश्यति ॥ ३० ॥

etad vai śraddhayā bhaktyā

yogābhyāsena nityaśaḥ

samāhitātmā niḥsaṅgo

viraktyā paripaśyati

Translation

This perfect knowledge can be achieved by a person who is already engaged in devotional service with faith, steadiness and full detachment, and who is always absorbed in thought of the Supreme. He is aloof from material association.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Faithful Devotional Service Opens Perfect Knowledge

  1. 1

    Perfect knowledge is attained through devotional service with faith, steadiness and detachment. The devotee remains absorbed in thought of the Supreme.

  2. 2

    Only those engaged in practical devotional service in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness can become absorbed in full samādhi.

  3. 3

    Through faithful devotional service, one can understand the cosmic manifestation and its cause. Atheistic mystic yoga cannot provide this perfect understanding.

Key points from the purport
  • The atheistic mystic practitioner of yoga cannot understand this perfect knowledge.
  • Only persons who engage in the practical activities of devotional service in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness can become absorbed in full samādhi.
  • It is clearly stated here that this is not possible to understand for one who has not developed devotional service in full faith.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etatthis
  2. vaicertainly
  3. śraddhayāwith faith
  4. bhaktyāby devotional service
  5. yoga-abhyāsenaby practice of yoga
  6. nityaśaḥalways
  7. samāhita-ātmāhe whose mind is fixed
  8. niḥsaṅgaḥaloof from material association
  9. viraktyāby detachment
  10. paripaśyatiunderstands
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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”, “understand”

  • 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

What would make your devotional practice more steady and attentive today?

Practice

Choose one small act of devotional service and complete it with your attention fixed on the Supreme.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFaithful Devotional Service Opens Perfect KnowledgeThis 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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