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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
3.32.333.32.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 3.32.34-36

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

क्रियया क्रतुभिर्दानैस्तप:स्वाध्यायमर्शनै: ।

आत्मेन्द्रियजयेनापि संन्यासेन च कर्मणाम् ॥ ३४ ॥

योगेन विविधाङ्गेन भक्तियोगेन चैव हि ।

धर्मेणोभयचिह्नेन य: प्रवृत्तिनिवृत्तिमान् ॥ ३५ ॥

आत्मतत्त्वावबोधेन वैराग्येण द‍ृढेन च ।

ईयते भगवानेभि: सगुणो निर्गुण: स्वद‍ृक् ॥ ३६ ॥

kriyayā kratubhir dānais

tapaḥ-svādhyāya-marśanaiḥ

ātmendriya-jayenāpi

sannyāsena ca karmaṇām

yogena vividhāṅgena

bhakti-yogena caiva hi

dharmeṇobhaya-cihnena

yaḥ pravṛtti-nivṛttimān

ātma-tattvāvabodhena

vairāgyeṇa dṛḍhena ca

īyate bhagavān ebhiḥ

saguṇo nirguṇaḥ sva-dṛk

Translation

By performing fruitive activities and sacrifices, by distributing charity, by performing austerities, by studying various literatures, by conducting philosophical research, by controlling the mind, by subduing the senses, by accepting the renounced order of life, by performing the prescribed duties of one’s social order, by performing the different divisions of yoga practice, by performing devotional service, by exhibiting the process of devotional service containing the symptoms of both attachment and detachment, by understanding the science of self-realization, and by developing a strong sense of detachment, one who is expert in understanding the different processes of self-realization realizes the Supreme Personality of Godhead as He is represented in the material world as well as in transcendence.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Make Devotion Central to Every Activity

  1. 1

    Different duties are prescribed for different social and spiritual orders. Their purpose is to elevate people to self-realization and then to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, devotional service.

  2. 2

    Sacrifice, charity, study, austerity and other prescribed activities must be performed with devotional service for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. When bhakti-yoga is prominent in every activity, the ultimate goal is sure.

  3. 3

    Devotional service develops attachment to the Supreme Lord and detachment from material affinities. Understanding oneself as His eternal servant leads one to engage in His service.

Key points from the purport
  • When one is transcendental to such desires because of accepting the renounced order of life, he can understand the Brahman feature of the Supreme, and when one is able to see his real constitutional position, he sees all other processes and becomes situated in the stage of pure devotional service.
  • If one actually understands one’s constitutional position as an eternal servitor of the Supreme Lord, he becomes detached from the service of the material world.
  • Similarly, one who fully understands the real position of his life adopts devotional service and realizes the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of SB 3.32.34-36 quotesBG 9.27

It is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (9.27), yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi: “Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you sacrifice, whatever austerities you undergo and whatever charities you give, the result should be given to the Supreme Lord.”

The purport of SB 3.32.34-36 quotesBG 9.25

By material activities one can approach only such demigods, as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (9.25).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. kriyayāby fruitive activities
  2. kratubhiḥby sacrificial performances
  3. dānaiḥby charity
  4. tapaḥausterities
  5. svādhyāyastudy of Vedic literature
  6. marśanaiḥand by philosophical research
  7. ātma-indriya-jayenaby controlling the mind and senses
  8. apialso
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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “detachment”, “renounced”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “philosophical”, “understanding”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.32

    In this verse: “attachment”, “material”

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

Am I performing my duties mainly for personal results, or for the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Choose one duty today and consciously offer its result to Kṛṣṇa rather than keeping it only for your own satisfaction.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMake Devotion Central to Every ActivityThis 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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