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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
3.33.73.33.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.33.8

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
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

तं त्वामहं ब्रह्म परं पुमांसं

प्रत्यक्स्रोतस्यात्मनि संविभाव्यम् ।

स्वतेजसा ध्वस्तगुणप्रवाहं

वन्दे विष्णुं कपिलं वेदगर्भम् ॥ ८ ॥

taṁ tvām ahaṁ brahma paraṁ pumāṁsaṁ

pratyak-srotasy ātmani saṁvibhāvyam

sva-tejasā dhvasta-guṇa-pravāhaṁ

vande viṣṇuṁ kapilaṁ veda-garbham

Translation

I believe, my Lord, that You are Lord Viṣṇu Himself under the name of Kapila, and You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Brahman! The saints and sages, being freed from all the disturbances of the senses and mind, meditate upon You, for by Your mercy only can one become free from the clutches of the three modes of material nature. At the time of dissolution, all the Vedas are sustained in You only.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Know the Lord Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Devahūti recognizes Kapila as Lord Viṣṇu Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and Supreme Brahman. Her intention is to satisfy Him.

  2. 2

    Realization of the Supreme Lord becomes possible when the senses are withdrawn from material activities. In devotional service, the senses are engaged so fully that there is no scope for other engagement.

  3. 3

    In full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can understand the Supreme Lord as He is. Only His mercy frees one from the influence of the three modes of material nature.

Key points from the purport
  • Devahūti, the mother of Kapila, instead of prolonging her prayers, summarized that Lord Kapila was none other than Viṣṇu and that since she was a woman it was not possible for her to worship Him properly simply by prayer.
  • The level of realization of the Supreme Lord evidenced by Devahūti is possible when one is able to withdraw the senses from material activities.
  • In such full Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can understand the Supreme Lord as He is.

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. tamunto Him
  2. tvāmYou
  3. ahamI
  4. brahmaBrahman
  5. paramsupreme
  6. pumāṁsamthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  7. pratyak-srotasiturned inwards
  8. ātmaniin the mind
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 3.33

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.33

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.33

    In this verse: “mercy”

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 could I engage my senses more fully in devotional service?

Practice

Set aside a few quiet minutes to read this prayer attentively, putting other sensory distractions aside.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKnow the Lord Through Devotional 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.33.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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