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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
3.15.313.15.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.15.32

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The sagessince 3.15.32inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Brahmā → the demigods

मुनय ऊचु:

को वामिहैत्य भगवत्परिचर्ययोच्चै-

स्तद्धर्मिणां निवसतां विषम: स्वभाव: ।

तस्मिन् प्रशान्तपुरुषे गतविग्रहे वां

को वात्मवत्कुहकयो: परिशङ्कनीय: ॥ ३२ ॥

munaya ūcuḥ

ko vām ihaitya bhagavat-paricaryayoccais

tad-dharmiṇāṁ nivasatāṁ viṣamaḥ svabhāvaḥ

tasmin praśānta-puruṣe gata-vigrahe vāṁ

ko vātmavat kuhakayoḥ pariśaṅkanīyaḥ

Translation

The sages said: Who are these two persons who have developed such a discordant mentality even though they are posted in the service of the Lord in the highest position and are expected to have developed the same qualities as the Lord? How are these two persons living in Vaikuṇṭha? Where is the possibility of an enemy’s coming into this kingdom of God? The Supreme Personality of Godhead has no enemy. Who could be envious of Him? Probably these two persons are imposters; therefore they suspect others to be like themselves.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Goodness Begins With Serving the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    All residents of Vaikuṇṭha engage in the Lord’s service and possess His good qualities. There is no enmity between them and the Lord.

  2. 2

    The basic principle of goodness is to accept subordination to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    No one enters Vaikuṇṭha without fully developing a mentality of devotional service. The sages therefore found the doormen’s suspicion completely out of place.

Key points from the purport
  • The difference between the inhabitants of a Vaikuṇṭha planet and those of a material planet is that in Vaikuṇṭha all the residents engage in the service of the Lord Himself and are equipped with all His good qualities.
  • Therefore in the Vaikuṇṭha world there is no question of enmity between the Lord and the residents.
  • But that is not relevant in this matter because no one is allowed to enter the Vaikuṇṭha planets unless he has developed one hundred percent his mentality of devotional service to the Supreme 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.

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. munayaḥthe great sages
  2. ūcuḥsaid
  3. kaḥwho
  4. vāmyou two
  5. ihain Vaikuṇṭha
  6. etyahaving attained
  7. bhagavatof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. paricaryayāby the service
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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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.15

    In this verse: “kingdom”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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 would accepting your position as the Lord’s servant change in your attitude today?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service, pause and consciously choose an attitude of humble service to the Supreme Lord.

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The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGoodness Begins With Serving the Supreme LordThis 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.

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