Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 29

Kapila on Liberation: Detachment, Devotional Discipline, and the Soul’s Aloofness from the Guṇas

Devanagari script

मद्भक्त: प्रतिबुद्धार्थो मत्प्रसादेन भूयसा । नि:श्रेयसं स्वसंस्थानं कैवल्याख्यं मदाश्रयम् ॥ २८ ॥ प्राप्नोतीहाञ्जसा धीर: स्वद‍ृशाच्छिन्नसंशय: । यद्गत्वा न निवर्तेत योगी लिङ्गाद्विनिर्गमे ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

mad-bhaktaḥ pratibuddhārtho mat-prasādena bhūyasā niḥśreyasaṁ sva-saṁsthānaṁ kaivalyākhyaṁ mad-āśrayam

Translation

我的奉献者因我无量无因的慈恩而真实自证；以其灵性之见，诸疑尽断。此人沉稳坚定，便在此生轻易趋向其注定的至善归处——名为“凯瓦利亚”的境界，处于我纯净喜乐之灵性能量的护持之下。舍此色身之时，瑜伽的奉献者往彼超越之境，永不再返。

Synonyms

• mad-bhaktaḥ: my devotee
• mad-bhaktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + bhakta (कृदन्त; √bhaj धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘मम भक्तः’

• pratibuddha-arthaḥ: enlightened in purpose
• pratibuddha-arthaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratibuddha (कृदन्त; √budh धातु) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mat-prasādena: by my grace
• mat-prasādena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + prasāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• bhūyasā: abundantly
• bhūyasā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (abundantly)

• niḥśreyasam: supreme good/liberation
• niḥśreyasam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niḥśreyasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sva-saṁsthānam: his own proper state/abode
• sva-saṁsthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + saṁsthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kaivalya-ākhyam: called ‘kaivalya’
• kaivalya-ākhyam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaivalya (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• mad-āśrayam: resting in me
• mad-āśrayam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Purport

Actual self-realization means becoming a pure devotee of the Lord. The existence of a devotee implies the function of devotion and the object of devotion. Self-realization ultimately means to understand the Personality of Godhead and the living entities; to know the individual self and the reciprocal exchanges of loving service between the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the living entity is real self-realization. This cannot be attained by the impersonalists or other transcendentalists; they cannot understand the science of devotional service. Devotional service is revealed to the pure devotee by the unlimited causeless mercy of the Lord. This is especially spoken of here by the Lord: mat-prasādena, “by My special grace.” This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā. Only those who engage in devotional service with love and faith receive the necessary intelligence from the Supreme Personality of Godhead so that gradually and progressively they can advance to the abode of the Personality of Godhead.

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Devahuti

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 3.27 say about kaivalya (liberation)?

It says kaivalya is the devotee’s own eternal position and is attained by the Lord’s mercy; it is described as taking shelter in the Lord (mad-āśrayam), not as dry, separate self-isolation.

Who is speaking Bhagavatam 3.27.29 and to whom?

Lord Kapila speaks this verse to His mother Devahūti while teaching sāṅkhya and bhakti as the direct path to the highest good.

Practical application: how can a modern seeker become 'chinna-saṁśaya' (free from doubt)?

By steady devotional practice and sincere spiritual inquiry that leads to direct realization (sva-dṛśā), supported by grace—doubts fall away when devotion matures into lived experience.