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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
3.15.183.15.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.15.19

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

मन्दारकुन्दकुरबोत्पलचम्पकार्ण-

पुन्नागनागबकुलाम्बुजपारिजाता: ।

गन्धेऽर्चिते तुलसिकाभरणेन तस्या

यस्मिंस्तप: सुमनसो बहु मानयन्ति ॥ १९ ॥

mandāra-kunda-kurabotpala-campakārṇa-

punnāga-nāga-bakulāmbuja-pārijātāḥ

gandhe ’rcite tulasikābharaṇena tasyā

yasmiṁs tapaḥ sumanaso bahu mānayanti

Translation

Although flowering plants like the mandāra, kunda, kurabaka, utpala, campaka, arṇa, punnāga, nāgakeśara, bakula, lily and pārijāta are full of transcendental fragrance, they are still conscious of the austerities performed by tulasī, for tulasī is given special preference by the Lord, who garlands Himself with tulasī leaves.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Honor Tulasī and Serve Without Envy

  1. 1

    The Lord gives special preference to tulasī and garlands Himself with her leaves. Tulasī plants and leaves are very important in devotional service.

  2. 2

    Devotees are recommended to water the tulasī plant daily and collect leaves for worshiping the Lord.

  3. 3

    There is no envy among the devotees in the spiritual world. Even the fragrant flowers honor tulasī’s greatness and are conscious of service to the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • The importance of tulasī leaves is very clearly mentioned here.
  • Tulasī plants and their leaves are very important in devotional service.
  • Devotees are recommended to water the tulasī tree every day and collect the leaves to worship the Lord.

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

Connected verses· 1

Quoted in the purport ofSB 10.35.8-11

The bees who are privileged to swarm about the flower garlands worn by the Supreme Personality of Godhead certainly appreciate this fragrance, and Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī quotes from the Bhāgavatam (3.15.19) to the effect that the most fragrant plants in Vaikuṇṭha also appreciate the special qualifications of Tulasī-devī.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. mandāramandāra flower
  2. kundakunda flower
  3. kurabakuraba
  4. utpalautpala
  5. campakacampaka
  6. arṇaarṇa
  7. punnāgapunnāga
  8. nāganāgakeśara
3

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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.15

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”, “worshiping”

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

Can I appreciate another’s special service without feeling envy?

Practice

Today, express sincere appreciation for someone else’s devotional service.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor Tulasī and Serve Without EnvyThis 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 3.15.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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