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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
3.15.33.15.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.15.4

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The fortunate demigodssince 3.15.3inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

देवदेव जगद्धातर्लोकनाथशिखामणे ।

परेषामपरेषां त्वं भूतानामसि भाववित् ॥ ४ ॥

deva-deva jagad-dhātar

lokanātha-śikhāmaṇe

pareṣām apareṣāṁ tvaṁ

bhūtānām asi bhāva-vit

Translation

O god of the demigods, sustainer of the universe, head jewel of all the demigods in other planets, you know the intentions of all living entities, in both the spiritual and material worlds.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Brahmā Knows the Living Entities’ Intentions

  1. 1

    Brahmā is addressed as the god of the demigods because he is almost on an equal footing with the Personality of Godhead. As the secondary creator, he is called the sustainer of the universe.

  2. 2

    He is the head of all the demigods and is therefore called their head jewel. He can understand events in both the spiritual and material worlds.

  3. 3

    Brahmā knows everyone’s heart and intentions. The demigods therefore asked him to explain why Diti’s pregnancy was causing universal anxiety.

Key points from the purport
  • Because Brahmā is almost on an equal footing with the Personality of Godhead, he is addressed here as the god of the demigods, and because he is the secondary creator of this universe, he is addressed as the sustainer of the universe.
  • He is the head of all the demigods, and therefore he is addressed here as the head jewel of the demigods.
  • Why was the pregnancy of Diti causing such anxieties all over the universe?

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. deva-devaO god of the demigods
  2. jagat-dhātaḥO sustainer of the universe
  3. lokanātha-śikhāmaṇeO head jewel of all the demigods in other planets
  4. pareṣāmof the spiritual world
  5. apareṣāmof the material world
  6. tvamyou
  7. bhūtānāmof all living entities
  8. asiare
  9. bhāva-vitknowing the intentions
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

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 intentions lie behind the questions I bring to others?

Practice

Before asking someone for guidance today, put your real concern into one honest sentence.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBrahmā Knows the Living Entities’ IntentionsThis 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 3.15.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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