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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
3.15.213.15.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.15.22

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

वापीषु विद्रुमतटास्वमलामृताप्सु

प्रेष्यान्विता निजवने तुलसीभिरीशम् ।

अभ्यर्चती स्वलकमुन्नसमीक्ष्य वक्त्र-

मुच्छेषितं भगवतेत्यमताङ्ग यच्छ्री: ॥ २२ ॥

vāpīṣu vidruma-taṭāsv amalāmṛtāpsu

preṣyānvitā nija-vane tulasībhir īśam

abhyarcatī svalakam unnasam īkṣya vaktram

uccheṣitaṁ bhagavatety amatāṅga yac-chrīḥ

Translation

The goddesses of fortune worship the Lord in their own gardens by offering tulasī leaves on the coral-paved banks of transcendental reservoirs of water. While offering worship to the Lord, they can see on the water the reflection of their beautiful faces with raised noses, and it appears that they have become more beautiful because of the Lord’s kissing their faces.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Beauty in Loving Worship

  1. 1

    The goddesses of fortune worship the Lord in their own gardens by offering tulasī leaves. Their beauty accompanies their loving worship.

  2. 2

    While worshiping, they see their beautiful faces reflected in the clear, transcendental water of the ponds.

  3. 3

    Although the goddess of fortune is naturally beautiful, she awaits the Lord’s kiss to become more beautiful. Her beauty is described in relation to the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • Generally, when a woman is kissed by her husband, her face becomes more beautiful.
  • In Vaikuṇṭha also, although the goddess of fortune is naturally as beautiful as can be imagined, she nevertheless awaits the kissing of the Lord to make her face more beautiful.
  • The beautiful face of the goddess of fortune appears in ponds of transcendental crystal water when she worships the Lord with tulasī leaves in her garden.

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. vāpīṣuin the ponds
  2. vidrumamade of coral
  3. taṭāsubanks
  4. amalatransparent
  5. amṛtanectarean
  6. apsuwater
  7. preṣyā-anvitāsurrounded by maidservants
  8. nija-vanein her own garden
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: “worship”

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

What draws my attention more in this description: beauty itself or the loving worship of the Lord?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute reflecting on the goddesses of fortune offering tulasī leaves to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBeauty in Loving WorshipThis 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 3.15.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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