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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 7: Further Inquires by Vidura
3.7.183.7.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.7.19

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vidurasince 3.7.15inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

यत्सेवया भगवत: कूटस्थस्य मधुद्विष: ।

रतिरासो भवेत्तीव्र: पादयोर्व्यसनार्दन: ॥ १९ ॥

yat-sevayā bhagavataḥ

kūṭa-sthasya madhu-dviṣaḥ

rati-rāso bhavet tīvraḥ

pādayor vyasanārdanaḥ

Translation

By serving the feet of the spiritual master, one is enabled to develop transcendental ecstasy in the service of the Personality of Godhead, who is the unchangeable enemy of the Madhu demon and whose service vanquishes one’s material distresses.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serving the Spiritual Master Deepens Devotion

  1. 1

    Association with and service to a bona fide spiritual master help develop transcendental attachment to direct service of the Lord. Such service can become deeply ecstatic.

  2. 2

    The Lord is the enemy of His pure devotee’s suffering. Loving service to Him vanquishes material distress.

  3. 3

    Service to the Lord has neutral, active, friendly, parental and conjugal relationships. As attachment to transcendental loving service develops, attachment to material service automatically disappears.

Key points from the purport
  • The association of a bona fide spiritual master like the sage Maitreya can be of absolute help in achieving transcendental attachment for the direct service of the Lord.
  • Service to the Lord is rendered in different transcendental mellows (relationships): neutral, active, friendly, parental and conjugal.
  • A living entity in the liberated position of transcendental service to the Lord becomes attracted to one of the above-mentioned mellows, and when one is engaged in transcendental loving service to the Lord, one’s service attachment in the material world is automatically vanquished.

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· 1

The purport of SB 3.7.19 quotesBG 2.59

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (2.59), rasa-varjaṁ raso ’py asya paraṁ dṛṣṭvā nivartate.

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

Mystery → Cosmic wonder. The origin of the world is revealed through inquiry and divine grace.

Chapters 5–12 of Canto 3: Creation and Brahmā's bewilderment. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 7: Further Inquires by Vidura

Vidura asks about illusion, the soul, creation, religious duties, and the relationship between teacher and disciple.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.7
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yatto whom
  2. sevayāby service
  3. bhagavataḥof the Personality of Godhead
  4. kūṭa-sthasyaof the unchangeable
  5. madhu-dviṣaḥthe enemy of the Madhu asura
  6. rati-rāsaḥattachment in different relationships
  7. bhavetdevelops
  8. tīvraḥhighly ecstatic
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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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.7

    In this verse: “distresses”, “suffering”, “distress”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.7

    In this verse: “material”, “attachment”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 3.7

    In this verse: “ecstasy”, “ecstatic”

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 service to the spiritual master help me develop attachment to serving the Lord?

Practice

Carry out one small instruction you have received from a bona fide spiritual master, with care and attention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServing the Spiritual Master Deepens DevotionThis 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 3.7.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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