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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
3.33.63.33.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.33.7

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Devahūtisince 3.33.2inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

अहो बत श्वपचोऽतो गरीयान्

यज्जिह्वाग्रे वर्तते नाम तुभ्यम् ।

तेपुस्तपस्ते जुहुवु: सस्‍नुरार्या

ब्रह्मानूचुर्नाम गृणन्ति ये ते ॥ ७ ॥

aho bata śva-paco ’to garīyān

yaj-jihvāgre vartate nāma tubhyam

tepus tapas te juhuvuḥ sasnur āryā

brahmānūcur nāma gṛṇanti ye te

Translation

Oh, how glorious are they whose tongues are chanting Your holy name! Even if born in the families of dog-eaters, such persons are worshipable. Persons who chant the holy name of Your Lordship must have executed all kinds of austerities and fire sacrifices and achieved all the good manners of the Āryans. To be chanting the holy name of Your Lordship, they must have bathed at holy places of pilgrimage, studied the Vedas and fulfilled everything required.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Glory of Chanting the Holy Name

  1. 1

    Those who chant the Lord’s holy name are worshipable, regardless of their family of birth. Offenseless chanting purifies a person immediately, without waiting for another birth.

  2. 2

    The chanters are understood to have already performed austerities and sacrifices, visited holy places and studied the Vedas. Chanting stands beyond these preparatory practices.

  3. 3

    One must chant the holy name of the Supreme Lord, such as Kṛṣṇa or Rāma, to please Him. Chanting is not meant for sense gratification or professional gain.

Key points from the purport
  • Only the holy name of the Supreme Lord will be effective.
  • All such Vedic rituals have been already performed by the chanters of the holy name.
  • Any devotee who is chanting the holy name of the Lord is the best kind of Āryan.

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· 4

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.24.14

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.33.7) it is stated: Even if a person is born in a family of caṇḍālas — the lowest birth one can get in human society — he is glorious if he chants the holy names of the Lord, for it is to be understood that by such chanting a devotee definitely proves that he underwent all kinds of…

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.5.38-40

To be chanting the holy name of Your Lordship, they must have bathed at holy places of pilgrimage, studied the Vedas and fulfilled everything required.”

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 11.192

The qualities or qualifications described herein are quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.33.7) and were spoken by Devahūti, the mother of Kapiladeva, when she understood the influence of devotional service (bhakti-yoga).

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 19.72

This verse is quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.33.7).

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 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. aho bataoh, how glorious
  2. śva-pacaḥa dog-eater
  3. ataḥhence
  4. garīyānworshipable
  5. yatof whom
  6. jihvā-agreon the tip of the tongue
  7. vartateis
  8. nāmathe holy name
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.33

    In this verse: “chanting”, “holy name”, “chant”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshipable”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.33

    In this verse: “purifies”

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 pleasing the Supreme Lord my purpose in chanting?

Practice

Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra slowly today, with the intention of pleasing the Lord.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 13 lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 13 lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayThe Glory of Chanting the Holy NameOne of the 108 chosen lessons: a practice and a question from this verse

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 3.33.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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