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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
3.15.363.15.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.15.37

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

एवं तदैव भगवानरविन्दनाभ:

स्वानां विबुध्य सदतिक्रममार्यहृद्य: ।

तस्मिन् ययौ परमहंसमहामुनीना-

मन्वेषणीयचरणौ चलयन् सहश्री: ॥ ३७ ॥

evaṁ tadaiva bhagavān aravinda-nābhaḥ

svānāṁ vibudhya sad-atikramam ārya-hṛdyaḥ

tasmin yayau paramahaṁsa-mahā-munīnām

anveṣaṇīya-caraṇau calayan saha-śrīḥ

Translation

At that very moment, the Lord, who is called Padmanābha because of the lotus grown from His navel and who is the delight of the righteous, learned about the insult offered by His own servants to the saints. Accompanied by His spouse, the goddess of fortune, He went to the spot on those very feet sought for by recluses and great sages.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Protects His Devotees

  1. 1

    The Lord is called Padmanābha because a lotus grows from His navel. He is the delight of the righteous.

  2. 2

    Understanding that His servants had insulted the sages, the Lord immediately came with the goddess of fortune to stop the quarrel from worsening.

  3. 3

    The Lord declares that His devotees cannot be vanquished. He intervened so that the doormen, who were His devotees, would not be vanquished for good.

Key points from the purport
  • In Bhagavad-gītā the Lord declares that His devotees cannot be vanquished at any time.
  • The Lord could understand that the quarrel between the doormen and the sages was taking a different turn, and therefore He instantly came out of His place and went to the spot to stop further aggravation so that His devotees, the doormen, might not be vanquished for good.

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. evamthus
  2. tadā evaat that very moment
  3. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. aravinda-nābhaḥwith a lotus growing from His navel
  5. svānāmof His own servants
  6. vibudhyalearned about
  7. satto the great sages
  8. atikramamthe insult
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.15

    In this verse: “understanding”

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

How does the Lord’s care for His erring servants deepen my trust in Him?

Practice

Spend a minute reflecting on the Lord’s prompt care for His devotees.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Protects His DevoteesThis 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 3.15.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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