Shloka 1

Bhakti Yoga: The Three Modes of Devotion, Non-Envy, and Time as the Lord

Devanagari script

देवहूतिरुवाच लक्षणं महदादीनां प्रकृते: पुरुषस्य च । स्वरूपं लक्ष्यतेऽमीषां येन तत्पारमार्थिकम् ॥ १ ॥ यथा साङ्ख्येषु कथितं यन्मूलं तत्प्रचक्षते । भक्तियोगस्य मे मार्गं ब्रूहि विस्तरश: प्रभो ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

devahūtir uvāca lakṣaṇaṁ mahad-ādīnāṁ prakṛteḥ puruṣasya ca svarūpaṁ lakṣyate ’mīṣāṁ yena tat-pāramārthikam

Translation

Devahūti said: My Lord, according to Sāṅkhya You have clearly described the symptoms of material nature, beginning with the mahat-tattva, and the characteristics and true form of the puruṣa, the spirit. Now, O Master, please explain to me in detail the path of bhakti-yoga, the supreme conclusion of all philosophies.

Synonyms

• देवहूतिः: Devahūti
• देवहूतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवहूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• लक्षणम्: characteristic; definition
• लक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• महत्-आदीनाम्: of (the principles) beginning with Mahat
• महत्-आदीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः—तत्पुरुष (आदि-तत्पुरुषः; ‘beginning with mahat’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-समूहवाचक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्रकृतेः: of Prakṛti (material nature)
• प्रकृतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• पुरुषस्य: of the Puruṣa (person/spirit)
• पुरुषस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• स्वरूपम्: essential form; true nature
• स्वरूपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• लक्ष्यते: is perceived/indicated
• लक्ष्यते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद, कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive)

• अमीषाम्: of these (entities)
• अमीषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; सर्वनाम—विशेषणरूपेण

• पारमार्थिकम्: ultimate; truly real
• पारमार्थिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पारमार्थिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण

Purport

In this Twenty-ninth Chapter, the glories of devotional service are elaborately explained, and the influence of time on the conditioned soul is also described. The purpose of elaborately describing the influence of time is to detach the conditioned soul from his material activities, which are considered to be simply a waste of time. In the previous chapter, material nature, the spirit and the Supreme Lord, or Supersoul, are analytically studied, and in this chapter the principles of bhakti-yoga, or devotional service — the execution of activities in the eternal relationship between the living entities and the Personality of Godhead — are explained.

Characters & Entities

• Devahūti
• Kapila (Lord Kapila)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3 say about prakriti and purusha?

Devahūti asks Kapila to define prakṛti (material nature) and puruṣa (the Supreme Person) so their ultimate, true reality can be understood.

Why did Devahuti ask Lord Kapila about bhakti-yoga after Sankhya?

She recognizes Sāṅkhya as a systematic explanation of reality and requests its root and culmination—detailed guidance in bhakti-yoga as the practical spiritual path.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Study the difference between matter and spirit while prioritizing devotional practice—regular hearing, remembrance, and service to God—as the life-transforming essence.