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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
3.15.303.15.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.15.31

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 3.15.24inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Brahmā → the demigods

ताभ्यां मिषत्स्वनिमिषेषु निषिध्यमाना:

स्वर्हत्तमा ह्यपि हरे: प्रतिहारपाभ्याम् ।

ऊचु: सुहृत्तमदिद‍ृक्षितभङ्ग ईष-

त्कामानुजेन सहसा त उपप्लुताक्षा: ॥ ३१ ॥

tābhyāṁ miṣatsv animiṣeṣu niṣidhyamānāḥ

svarhattamā hy api hareḥ pratihāra-pābhyām

ūcuḥ suhṛttama-didṛkṣita-bhaṅga īṣat

kāmānujena sahasā ta upaplutākṣāḥ

Translation

When the Kumāras, although by far the fittest persons, were thus forbidden entrance by the two chief doorkeepers of Śrī Hari while other divinities looked on, their eyes suddenly turned red because of anger due to their great eagerness to see their most beloved master, Śrī Hari, the Personality of Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Direct the Senses Toward Kṛṣṇa’s Service

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the greatest well-wishing friend of every living entity. He comes Himself or sends His devotees to reclaim fallen souls.

  2. 2

    The Kumāras became angry because they were prevented from seeing and serving their beloved Lord, not because their personal sense desires were frustrated.

  3. 3

    Sense activities continue even in liberation, but they are used only in connection with Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The duty of a person in the renounced order is to enlighten others about the Lord’s glories and supremacy.

Key points from the purport
  • The four Kumāras came to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead Nārāyaṇa.
  • In this verse it is figuratively stated that the younger brother of desire suddenly appeared in person when the sages were forbidden to see their most beloved Personality of Godhead.
  • The difference between the anger of an ordinary person and that of a liberated person is that an ordinary person becomes angry because his sense desires are not being fulfilled, whereas a liberated person like the Kumāras becomes angry when restricted in the discharge of duties for serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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. tābhyāmby those two porters
  2. miṣatsuwhile looking on
  3. animiṣeṣudemigods living in Vaikuṇṭha
  4. niṣidhyamānāḥbeing forbidden
  5. su-arhattamāḥby far the fittest persons
  6. hi apialthough
  7. hareḥof Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. pratihāra-pābhyāmby the two doorkeepers
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duty”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 3.15

    In this verse: “renounced”

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

When anger arises in you, is it connected with service or with an unfulfilled personal desire?

Practice

Read aloud one sentence from this purport about Kṛṣṇa’s friendship, using your voice in His service.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDirect the Senses Toward Kṛṣṇa’s ServiceThis 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 3.15.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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