Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 33 Verse 22

Canto 3: The Status Quo | Chapter 33: Activities of Kapila

Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.33.22

tam eva dhyāyatī devam

apatyaḿ kapilaḿ harim

babhūvācirato vatsa

niḥspṛhā tādṛśe gṛhe

SYNONYMS

tam — upon Him; eva — certainly; dhyāyatī — meditating; devam — divine; apatyam — son; kapilam — Lord Kapila; harim — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; babhūva — became; acirataḥ — very soon; vatsa — O dear Vidura; niḥspṛhā — unattached; tādṛśe gṛhe — to such a home.

TRANSLATION

O Vidura, thus always meditating upon her son, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kapiladeva, she very soon became unattached to her nicely decorated home.

PURPORT

Here is a practical example of how one can elevate oneself in spiritual advancement by Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kapiladeva is Kṛṣṇa, and He appeared as the son of Devahūti. After Kapiladeva left home, Devahūti was absorbed in thought of Him, and thus she was always Kṛṣṇa conscious. Her constant situation in Kṛṣṇa consciousness enabled her to be detached from hearth and home.

Unless we are able to transfer our attachment to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, there is no possibility of becoming freed from material attachment. The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, therefore, confirms that it is not possible for one to become liberated by cultivation of empiric philosophical speculation. Simply knowing that one is not matter but spirit soul, or Brahman, does not purify one's intelligence. Even if the impersonalist reaches the highest platform of spiritual realization, he falls down again to material attachment because of not being situated in the transcendental loving service of the Supreme Lord.

The devotees adopt the devotional process, hearing about the Supreme Lord's pastimes and glorifying His activities and thereby always remembering His beautiful eternal form. By rendering service, becoming His friend or His servant and offering Him everything that one possesses, one is able to enter into the kingdom of God. As it is said in Bhagavad-gītā, tato māḿ tattvato jñātvā: after discharging pure devotional service, one can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead in fact, and thus one becomes eligible to enter into His association in one of the spiritual planets.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness