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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
3.15.373.15.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.15.38

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

तं त्वागतं प्रतिहृतौपयिकं स्वपुम्भि-

स्तेऽचक्षताक्षविषयं स्वसमाधिभाग्यम् ।

हंसश्रियोर्व्यजनयो: शिववायुलोल-

च्छुभ्रातपत्रशशिकेसरशीकराम्बुम् ॥ ३८ ॥

taṁ tv āgataṁ pratihṛtaupayikaṁ sva-pumbhis

te ’cakṣatākṣa-viṣayaṁ sva-samādhi-bhāgyam

haṁsa-śriyor vyajanayoḥ śiva-vāyu-lolac-

chubhrātapatra-śaśi-kesara-śīkarāmbum

Translation

The sages, headed by Sanaka Ṛṣi, saw that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, who was formerly visible only within their hearts in ecstatic trance, had now actually become visible to their eyes. As He came forward, accompanied by His own associates bearing all paraphernalia, such as an umbrella and a cāmara fan, the white bunches of hair moved very gently, like two swans, and due to their favorable breeze the pearls garlanding the umbrella also moved, like drops of nectar falling from the white full moon or ice melting due to a gust of wind.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Opens Our Vision

  1. 1

    The Kumāras had seen the Lord within their hearts in ecstatic trance. Now they were struck with wonder to see Him face to face with His associates.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Lord cannot be seen by ordinary eyes. Pure devotees, elevated in love of God, see Him within their hearts and, when mature, directly before them.

  3. 3

    Devotional service begins with the tongue, through chanting the Lord’s holy name and tasting prasāda. As one engages in this service, the Lord gradually reveals Himself.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Lord cannot be seen by ordinary eyes, but He now became visible to the eyesight of the Kumāras.
  • The Kumāras, therefore, upon seeing the Lord coming forward with His associates, who were holding an umbrella and a cāmara fan, were struck with wonder that they were seeing the Lord face to face.
  • Thus the devotee constantly sees the Lord within his heart, and, in a more mature stage, one can see the same Lord directly, as we see everything else.

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. tamHim
  2. tubut
  3. āgatamcoming forward
  4. pratihṛtacarried
  5. aupayikamthe paraphernalia
  6. sva-pumbhiḥby His own associates
  7. tethe great sages (the Kumāras)
  8. acakṣatasaw
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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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 3.15

    In this verse: “ecstatic”, “love”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.15

    In this verse: “favorable”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

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 can I give more attention to devotional service through my tongue?

Practice

Set aside a short moment today to chant the Lord’s holy name attentively.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Opens Our VisionThis 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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