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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
3.32.34-363.32.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.32.37

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

प्रावोचं भक्तियोगस्य स्वरूपं ते चतुर्विधम् ।

कालस्य चाव्यक्तगतेर्योऽन्तर्धावति जन्तुषु ॥ ३७ ॥

prāvocaṁ bhakti-yogasya

svarūpaṁ te catur-vidham

kālasya cāvyakta-gater

yo ’ntardhāvati jantuṣu

Translation

My dear mother, I have explained to you the process of devotional service and its identity in four different social divisions. I have explained to you as well how eternal time is chasing the living entities, although it is imperceptible to them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Devotion Is the Main Path

  1. 1

    Lord Kapila compares devotional service to the main river flowing toward the sea of the Absolute Truth. Other processes are like tributaries.

  2. 2

    Bhakti-yoga has four divisions: three mixed with the material modes and one beyond them. Devotional service mixed with the modes remains a means for material existence.

  3. 3

    Pure devotional service is free from desires for fruitive results and attempts at empirical philosophical research. The translation also reminds us that eternal time imperceptibly chases living entities.

Key points from the purport
  • The process of bhakti-yoga, devotional service, is the main river flowing down towards the sea of the Absolute Truth, and all other processes mentioned are just like tributaries.
  • Lord Kapila is summarizing the importance of the process of devotional service.
  • Devotional service mixed with the modes of material nature is a means for material existence, whereas devotional service without desires for fruitive result and without attempts for empirical philosophical research is pure, transcendental devotional service.

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. prāvocamexplained
  2. bhakti-yogasyaof devotional service
  3. svarūpamthe identity
  4. teto you
  5. catuḥ-vidhamin four divisions
  6. kālasyaof time
  7. caalso
  8. avyakta-gateḥthe movement of which is imperceptible
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”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “philosophical”, “absolute truth”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.32

    In this verse: “mother”

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 desire for personal results is becoming mixed with my devotional service?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and set aside the wish for a material reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Devotion Is the Main PathThis 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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