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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
3.15.393.15.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.15.40

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

पीतांशुके पृथुनितम्बिनि विस्फुरन्त्या

काञ्‍च्यालिभिर्विरुतया वनमालया च ।

वल्गुप्रकोष्ठवलयं विनतासुतांसे

विन्यस्तहस्तमितरेण धुनानमब्जम् ॥ ४० ॥

pītāṁśuke pṛthu-nitambini visphurantyā

kāñcyālibhir virutayā vana-mālayā ca

valgu-prakoṣṭha-valayaṁ vinatā-sutāṁse

vinyasta-hastam itareṇa dhunānam abjam

Translation

He was adorned with a girdle that shone brightly on the yellow cloth covering His large hips, and He wore a garland of fresh flowers which was distinguished by humming bees. His lovely wrists were graced with bracelets, and He rested one of His hands on the shoulder of Garuḍa, His carrier, and twirled a lotus with another hand.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Personal Features Attract Devotees

  1. 1

    The sages personally experienced the form of the Personality of Godhead. His body was covered in yellow robes, with a brightly shining girdle at His waist.

  2. 2

    His fresh flower garland was surrounded by humming bees, and bracelets adorned His lovely wrists. These features were beautiful and attractive to the devotees.

  3. 3

    The Lord rested one hand on Garuḍa’s shoulder and twirled a lotus in another. These are personal characteristics of the Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • Here is a full description of the Personality of Godhead as personally experienced by the sages.
  • In Vaikuṇṭha, whenever there is a flower garland on the chest of the Personality of Godhead or any one of His associates, it is described that the humming bees are there.
  • One of the Lord’s hands rested on His carrier, Garuḍa, and in another hand He twirled a lotus flower.

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. pīta-aṁśukecovered with a yellow cloth
  2. pṛthu-nitambinion His large hips
  3. visphurantyāshining brightly
  4. kāñcyāwith a girdle
  5. alibhiḥby the bees
  6. virutayāhumming
  7. vana-mālayāwith a garland of fresh flowers
  8. caand
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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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.15

    In this verse: “graced”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

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

    In this verse: “lovely”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “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

Which of Nārāyaṇa’s personal features described here draws my attention most?

Practice

Reread the description slowly and spend a minute remembering one of the Lord’s personal features.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Personal Features Attract 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.

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