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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
3.15.333.15.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.15.34

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

तद्वाममुष्य परमस्य विकुण्ठभर्तु:

कर्तुं प्रकृष्टमिह धीमहि मन्दधीभ्याम् ।

लोकानितो व्रजतमन्तरभावद‍ृष्टय‍ा

पापीयसस्त्रय इमे रिपवोऽस्य यत्र ॥ ३४ ॥

tad vām amuṣya paramasya vikuṇṭha-bhartuḥ

kartuṁ prakṛṣṭam iha dhīmahi manda-dhībhyām

lokān ito vrajatam antara-bhāva-dṛṣṭyā

pāpīyasas traya ime ripavo ’sya yatra

Translation

Therefore let us consider how these two contaminated persons should be punished. The punishment should be apt, for thus benefit can eventually be bestowed upon them. Since they find duality in the existence of Vaikuṇṭha life, they are contaminated and should be removed from this place to the material world, where the living entities have three kinds of enemies.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Overcome the Enemies of Devotional Life

  1. 1

    A pure living entity is in harmony with the Supreme Lord’s desires. The sages intended a fitting punishment that would eventually benefit the doormen.

  2. 2

    Desire, anger and lust keep living entities in material existence. We should not become angry when sense gratification is denied or seek more than we need.

  3. 3

    We should learn Bhagavad-gītā and accept Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as the Lord of everything. Training in satisfying His senses rather than our own prepares us to enter Vaikuṇṭha.

Key points from the purport
  • By contamination he is forced to transfer to this material world, where the living entities have three enemies, namely desire, anger and lust.
  • These three enemies force the living entities to continue material existence, and when one is free from them he is eligible to enter the kingdom of God.
  • Since the basic principles of criminality are sense gratification, anger and unnecessary lust, persons conducted by these three enemies of the living entity are never promoted to Vaikuṇṭhaloka.

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. tattherefore
  2. vāmunto these two
  3. amuṣyaof Him
  4. paramasyathe Supreme
  5. vikuṇṭha-bhartuḥthe Lord of Vaikuṇṭha
  6. kartumto bestow
  7. prakṛṣṭambenefit
  8. ihain the matter of this offense
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.15

    In this verse: “material”, “lust”, “sense gratification”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.15

    In this verse: “contaminated”

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

Which unnecessary desire most often draws your attention away from serving Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside one unnecessary acquisition today and use that time to study Bhagavad-gītā.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOvercome the Enemies of Devotional LifeThis 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 3.15.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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