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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
3.32.323.32.34-36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.32.33

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

यथेन्द्रियै: पृथग्द्वारैरर्थो बहुगुणाश्रय: ।

एको नानेयते तद्वद्भगवान्शास्त्रवर्त्मभि: ॥ ३३ ॥

yathendriyaiḥ pṛthag-dvārair

artho bahu-guṇāśrayaḥ

eko nāneyate tadvad

bhagavān śāstra-vartmabhiḥ

Translation

A single object is appreciated differently by different senses due to its having different qualities. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead is one, but according to different scriptural injunctions He appears to be different.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Reveals the Supreme Person

  1. 1

    The same Supreme Lord appears differently through different processes, just as milk is perceived differently by different senses. Mental speculation approaches impersonal Brahman, while yoga practice may reveal the localized Supersoul.

  2. 2

    Through bhakti-yoga, one can approach the Supreme Lord face to face as the Supreme Person. Devotional service gives the living entity the highest possible understanding of the Absolute Truth.

  3. 3

    The pleasure of exchanging devotional service with Kṛṣṇa surpasses even Brahman pleasure. Without bhakti, neither jñāna-yoga nor aṣṭāṅga-yoga can be successful.

Key points from the purport
  • It appears that by following the path of jñāna-yoga, or empiric philosophical speculation, one reaches the impersonal Brahman, whereas by executing devotional service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness one enriches his faith in and devotion to the Personality of Godhead.
  • As the same object appears to be different when perceived by different senses, the same Supreme Lord appears to be impersonal by mental speculation.
  • Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī therefore says that kaivalya, the Brahman pleasure, is undoubtedly very great and is appreciated by many philosophers, but to a devotee, who has understood how to derive pleasure from exchanging devotional service with the Lord, this unlimited Brahman appears to be hellish.

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. yathāas
  2. indriyaiḥby the senses
  3. pṛthak-dvāraiḥin different ways
  4. arthaḥan object
  5. bahu-guṇamany qualities
  6. āśrayaḥendowed with
  7. ekaḥone
  8. nānādifferently
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”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “absolute truth”, “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

How can I make devotion to Kṛṣṇa central to my effort to understand Him?

Practice

Take one quiet minute today to fix your mind on Kṛṣṇa, the master of the senses.

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 todayDevotion Reveals the Supreme PersonThis 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 3.32.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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