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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 3 · Chapter 15: Description of the Kingdom of God
3.15.173.15.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.15.18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 3.15.12inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Brahmā → the demigods

पारावतान्यभृतसारसचक्रवाक-

दात्यूहहंसशुकतित्तिरिबर्हिणां य: ।

कोलाहलो विरमतेऽचिरमात्रमुच्चै

र्भृङ्गाधिपे हरिकथामिव गायमाने ॥ १८ ॥

pārāvatānyabhṛta-sārasa-cakravāka-

dātyūha-haṁsa-śuka-tittiri-barhiṇāṁ yaḥ

kolāhalo viramate ’cira-mātram uccair

bhṛṅgādhipe hari-kathām iva gāyamāne

Translation

When the king of bees hums in a high pitch, singing the glories of the Lord, there is a temporary lull in the noise of the pigeon, the cuckoo, the crane, the cakravāka, the swan, the parrot, the partridge and the peacock. Such transcendental birds stop their own singing simply to hear the glories of the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Listen Eagerly to the Lord’s Glories

  1. 1

    When the king of bees sings the Lord’s glories, the birds stop their own singing to listen.

  2. 2

    Everything in Vaikuṇṭha is spiritual and animate. Trees, ground, flowers, birds and beasts are all on the level of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  3. 3

    The birds prefer hearing the Lord’s glories to enjoying their own sounds. Hearing and chanting, the beginning principles of devotional service, are prominent in Vaikuṇṭha.

Key points from the purport
  • Even the trees, the ground, the plants, the flowers, the birds and the beasts are all on the level of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
  • The special feature of Vaikuṇṭhaloka is that there is no question of sense gratification, In the material world even an ass enjoys his sound vibration, but in the Vaikuṇṭhas such nice birds as the peacock, the cakravāka and the cuckoo prefer to hear the vibration of the glories of the Lord from the bees.
  • The principles of devotional service, beginning with hearing and chanting, are very prominent in the Vaikuṇṭha world.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Threat and anger → Rescue and wonder. Divine protection appears amid cosmic confrontation.

Chapters 13–19 of Canto 3: Varāha, Jaya and Vijaya, Hiraṇyākṣa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 15: Description of the Kingdom of God

Brahmā describes Vaikuṇṭha, where the Kumāras curse two doorkeepers and then behold the Lord.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.15
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. pārāvatapigeons
  2. anyabhṛtacuckoo
  3. sārasacrane
  4. cakravākacakravāka
  5. dātyūhagallinule
  6. haṁsaswan
  7. śukaparrot
  8. tittiripartridge
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.15

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.15

    In this verse: “king”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.15

    In this verse: “principles”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I make room to listen to the Lord’s glories rather than always wanting to speak?

Practice

Listen quietly for a few minutes to someone chanting or speaking the Lord’s glories.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayListen Eagerly to the Lord’s GloriesThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.15.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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