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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
3.32.53.32.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.32.6

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

निवृत्तिधर्मनिरता निर्ममा निरहङ्कृता: ।

स्वधर्माप्तेन सत्त्वेन परिशुद्धेन चेतसा ॥ ६ ॥

nivṛtti-dharma-niratā

nirmamā nirahaṅkṛtāḥ

sva-dharmāptena sattvena

pariśuddhena cetasā

Translation

By executing one’s occupational duties, acting with detachment and without a sense of proprietorship or false egoism, one is posted in one’s constitutional position by dint of complete purification of consciousness, and by thus executing so-called material duties he can easily enter into the kingdom of God.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Purify Consciousness Through Detached Service

  1. 1

    Pravṛtti-dharma seeks prosperity or higher planets for sense gratification. Nivṛtti-dharma means acting for the Supreme Personality of Godhead and cultivating detachment.

  2. 2

    In devotional service in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one gives up claims of ownership and the false idea of being the master. One always thinks oneself the servant.

  3. 3

    Performing occupational duties in this spirit purifies consciousness and opens the way to the kingdom of God. Material planets, however elevated, undergo repeated dissolution.

Key points from the purport
  • Here the word nivṛtti-dharma-niratāḥ means “constantly engaging in executing religious activities for detachment.”
  • With pure consciousness only can one enter into the kingdom of God.
  • Materialistic persons, in their elevated condition, can enter any one of the planets within this material world, but all are subjected to dissolution over and over again.

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. nivṛtti-dharmain religious activities for detachment
  2. niratāḥconstantly engaged
  3. nirmamāḥwithout a sense of proprietorship
  4. nirahaṅkṛtāḥwithout false egoism
  5. sva-dharmaby one’s own occupational duties
  6. āptenaexecuted
  7. sattvenaby goodness
  8. pariśuddhenacompletely purified
  9. cetasāby consciousness
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.32

    In this verse: “purification”, “purifies”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “sense gratification”

  • 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

Where do I hold tightly to the thought that I am the owner or master?

Practice

Before beginning one duty, remind yourself, “I am a servant, not the master,” and work without claiming the result as your own.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPurify Consciousness Through Detached ServiceThis 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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