FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.33.12

मैत्रेय उवाच इति प्रदर्श्य भगवान्सतीं तामात्मनो गतिम् । स्वमात्रा ब्रह्मवादिन्या कपिलोऽनुमतो ययौ ॥ १२ ॥
maitreya uvāca
[maitreya uvaacha]
iti pradarśya bhagavān
[iti pradarshya bhagavaan]
satīṁ tām ātmano gatim
[sateem taam aatmano gatim]
sva-mātrā brahma-vādinyā
[sva-maatraa brahma-vaadinyaa]
kapilo ’numato yayau
[kapilo ’numato yayau]
maitreyaḥ uvāca — Maitreya said iti — thus pradarśya — after instructing bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead satīm — venerable tām — that ātmanaḥ — of self-realization gatim — path sva-mātrā — from His mother brahma-vādinyā — self-realized kapilaḥ — Lord Kapila anumataḥ — took permission yayau — left.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
maitreya uvāca
maitreyaḥ uvāca
Maitreya said
iti pradarśya bhagavān
iti
thus
pradarśya
after instructing
bhagavān
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
satīṁ tām ātmano gatim
satīm
venerable
tām
that
ātmanaḥ
of self-realization
gatim
path
sva-mātrā brahma-vādinyā
sva-mātrā
from His mother
brahma-vādinyā
self-realized
kapilo ’numato yayau
kapilaḥ
Lord Kapila
anumataḥ
took permission
yayau
left.
Śrī Maitreya said: The Supreme Personality of Godhead Kapila, after instructing His beloved mother, took permission from her and left His home, His mission having been fulfilled.

The mission of the appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of Kapila was to distribute the transcendental knowledge of Sāṅkhya philosophy, which is full of devotional service. Having imparted that knowledge to His mother — and, through His mother, to the world — Kapiladeva had no more need to stay at home, so He took permission from His mother and left. Apparently He left home for spiritual realization, although He had nothing to realize spiritually because He Himself is the person to be spiritually realized. Therefore this is an example set by the Supreme Personality of Godhead while acting like an ordinary human being so that others might learn from Him. He could, of course, have stayed with His mother, but He indicated that there was no need to stay with the family. It is best to remain alone as a brahmacārī, sannyāsī or vānaprastha and cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness throughout one’s whole life. Those who are unable to remain alone are given license to live in household life with wife and children, not for sense gratification but for cultivation of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Maitreya said: Having shown his mother the path of the soul, Kapila, taking permission from his mother who knew the truth about her son, departed. The reason for his mother giving permission is stated. She was a brahma-vādi, one who speaks about or knows that her son was Brahman. Thus she considered that she would be protected by his will.
The verse treats sense gratification as the path of least resistance, not as evil. The work is to introduce a little resistance — a small rule, kept — and let the soul re-emerge. The pivot here is Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Reflection Questions
  • Which sense, if you watched it for one day, would surprise you with how often you indulge it?
  • What small regulation of routine would free up the most attention for inner life?
📝 My note

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