FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.33.30

एवं सा कपिलोक्तेन मार्गेणाचिरत: परम् । आत्मानं ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं भगवन्तमवाप ह ॥ ३० ॥
evaṁ sā kapiloktena
[evam saa kapiloktena]
mārgeṇācirataḥ param
[maargenaachiratah param]
ātmānaṁ brahma-nirvāṇaṁ
[aatmaanam brahma-nirvaanam]
bhagavantam avāpa ha
[bhagavantam avaapa ha]
evam — thus sā — she (Devahūti) kapila — by Kapila uktena — instructed mārgeṇa — by the path acirataḥ — soon param — supreme ātmānam — Supersoul brahma — Brahman nirvāṇam — cessation of materialistic existence bhagavantam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead avāpa — she achieved ha — certainly.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
evaṁ sā kapiloktena
evam
thus
sā
she (Devahūti)
kapila
by Kapila
uktena
instructed
mārgeṇācirataḥ param
mārgeṇa
by the path
acirataḥ
soon
param
supreme
ātmānaṁ brahma-nirvāṇaṁ
ātmānam
Supersoul
brahma
Brahman
nirvāṇam
cessation of materialistic existence
bhagavantam avāpa ha
bhagavantam
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
avāpa
she achieved
ha
certainly.
My dear Vidura, by following the principles instructed by Kapila, Devahūti soon became liberated from material bondage and achieved the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as Supersoul, without difficulty.

Three words have been used in this connection to describe the achievement of Devahūti: ātmānam, brahma-nirvāṇam and bhagavantam. These refer to the gradual process of discovery of the Absolute Truth, mentioned herein as the bhagavantam. The Supreme Personality of Godhead resides in various Vaikuṇṭha planets. Nirvāṇa means to extinguish the pangs of material existence. When one is able to enter into the spiritual kingdom or into spiritual realization, one is automatically freed from material pangs. That is called brahma-nirvāṇa. According to Vedic scripture, nirvāṇa means cessation of the materialistic way of life. Ātmānam means realization of the Supersoul within the heart. Ultimately, the highest perfection is realization of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is to be understood that Devahūti entered the planet which is called Kapila Vaikuṇṭha. There are innumerable Vaikuṇṭha planets predominated by the expansions of Viṣṇu. All the Vaikuṇṭha planets are known by a particular name of Viṣṇu. As we understand from Brahma-saṁhitā, advaitam acyutam anādim ananta-rūpam. Ananta means “innumerable.” The Lord has innumerable expansions of His transcendental form, and according to the different positions of the symbolical representations in His four hands, He is known as Nārāyaṇa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Vāsudeva, etc. There is also a Vaikuṇṭha planet known as Kapila Vaikuṇṭha, to which Devahūti was promoted to meet Kapila and reside there eternally, enjoying the company of her transcendental son.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
By the method taught by Kapila, she quickly attained the Supreme Lord, Bhagavān, the supreme soul. This attainment included liberation. She attained the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha, Bhagavān, the best of souls (param). “Did she not attain liberation?” Attainment of Bhagavān was also attainment of liberation (brahma-nirvāṇam). adhokṣajālambham ihāśubhātmanaḥ śarīriṇaḥ saṁsṛti-cakra-śātanam tad brahma-nirvāṇa-sukhaṁ vidur budhās tato bhajadhvaṁ hṛdaye hṛd-īśvaram The wise know that direct contact with the Lord, which includes the happiness of Brahman, destroys saṁsāra for the sinful persons possessing material bodies in this world. Therefore worship the Paramātmā in your heart. SB 7.7.37 In this verse brahma-nirvāṇa-sukham refers to the Supreme Lord. Therefore the verse can mean that Devahūti attained Kapila, her son, in Kapila Vaikuṇṭha.
The verse points beyond impersonal abstraction to a Lord who hears, acts, and relates. Spiritual life gets real once we stop talking about Him and start talking to Him. Its centre of gravity is Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Reflection Questions
  • Whom do you actually address when you pray — a concept, or a person?
  • What single attribute of the Lord, taken seriously today, would reorganize a corner of your life?
📝 My note

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