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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 33: Activities of Kapila
3.32.433.33.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.33.1

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.33.1inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

मैत्रेय उवाच

एवं निशम्य कपिलस्य वचो जनित्री

सा कर्दमस्य दयिता किल देवहूति: ।

विस्रस्तमोहपटला तमभिप्रणम्य

तुष्टाव तत्त्वविषयाङ्कितसिद्धिभूमिम् ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvāca

evaṁ niśamya kapilasya vaco janitrī

sā kardamasya dayitā kila devahūtiḥ

visrasta-moha-paṭalā tam abhipraṇamya

tuṣṭāva tattva-viṣayāṅkita-siddhi-bhūmim

Translation

Śrī Maitreya said: Thus Devahūti, the mother of Lord Kapila and wife of Kardama Muni, became freed from all ignorance concerning devotional service and transcendental knowledge. She offered her obeisances unto the Lord, the author of the basic principles of the Sāṅkhya system of philosophy, which is the background of liberation, and she satisfied Him with the following verses of prayer.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Knowledge Brings Liberation

  1. 1

    Lord Kapila’s Sāṅkhya philosophy is the background for becoming situated on the spiritual platform. Understanding it frees one from the clutches of matter.

  2. 2

    One can be liberated while still living in a material body. This stage, called jīvan-mukti, was attained by Devahūti.

  3. 3

    Understanding the basic principle of this philosophy elevates one in devotional service and makes one fully Kṛṣṇa conscious. Freed from ignorance, Devahūti offered obeisances and prayers to the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • The system of philosophy enunciated by Lord Kapila before His mother is the background for situation on the spiritual platform.
  • People who are suffering in this material world because they are conditioned by the material energy can easily get freedom from the clutches of matter by understanding the Sāṅkhya philosophy enunciated by Lord Kapila.
  • Anyone who understands the basic principle of Sāṅkhya philosophy is elevated in devotional service and becomes fully Kṛṣṇa conscious, or liberated, even within this material world.

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 33: Activities of Kapila

Devahūti follows Kapila’s instructions and attains liberation; Kapila travels onward and receives prayers and offerings.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.33
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. maitreyaḥ uvācaMaitreya said
  2. evamthus
  3. niśamyahaving heard
  4. kapilasyaof Lord Kapila
  5. vacaḥthe words
  6. janitrīthe mother
  7. sāshe
  8. kardamasyaof Kardama Muni
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.33

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “philosophy”, “understanding”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.33

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.33

    In this verse: “principles”

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 does Devahūti’s response help you connect spiritual understanding with devotional service?

Practice

Reread one teaching in this purport, then offer the Lord a short prayer of gratitude.

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 3.33's connections

Live this todayDevotional Knowledge Brings LiberationThis 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 3.33.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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