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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
3.15.433.15.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.15.44

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

ते वा अमुष्य वदनासितपद्मकोश-

मुद्वीक्ष्य सुन्दरतराधरकुन्दहासम् ।

लब्धाशिष: पुनरवेक्ष्य तदीयमङ्‌घ्रि-

द्वन्द्वं नखारुणमणिश्रयणं निदध्यु: ॥ ४४ ॥

te vā amuṣya vadanāsita-padma-kośam

udvīkṣya sundaratarādhara-kunda-hāsam

labdhāśiṣaḥ punar avekṣya tadīyam aṅghri-

dvandvaṁ nakhāruṇa-maṇi-śrayaṇaṁ nidadhyuḥ

Translation

The Lord’s beautiful face appeared to them like the inside of a blue lotus, and the Lord’s smile appeared to be a blossoming jasmine flower. After seeing the face of the Lord, the sages were fully satisfied, and when they wanted to see Him further, they looked upon the nails of His lotus feet, which resembled rubies. Thus they viewed the Lord’s transcendental body again and again, and so they finally achieved meditation on the Lord’s personal feature.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Meditate on the Lord’s Personal Form

  1. 1

    The Lord’s face appeared like the inside of a blue lotus, and His smile resembled a blossoming jasmine flower.

  2. 2

    The sages were fully satisfied on seeing His face, yet wished to see Him further. They then looked at the nails of His lotus feet, which resembled rubies.

  3. 3

    They viewed the Lord’s transcendental body again and again. In this way, they achieved meditation on His personal feature.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tethose sages
  2. vaicertainly
  3. amuṣyaof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. vadanaface
  5. asitablue
  6. padmalotus
  7. kośaminside
  8. udvīkṣyaafter looking up
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

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 might returning my attention to the Lord’s personal form deepen my meditation?

Practice

Spend one minute recalling the Lord’s lotuslike face, jasmine-like smile and ruby-like toenails as described here.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMeditate on the Lord’s Personal FormThis 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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