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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.15.47

Who is speaking and story frame

तं त्वां विदाम भगवन् परमात्मतत्त्वं

सत्त्वेन सम्प्रति रतिं रचयन्तमेषाम् ।

यत्तेऽनुतापविदितैर्दृढभक्तियोगै-

रुद्ग्रन्थयो हृदि विदुर्मुनयो विरागा: ॥ ४७ ॥

taṁ tvāṁ vidāma bhagavan param ātma-tattvaṁ

sattvena samprati ratiṁ racayantam eṣām

yat te ’nutāpa-viditair dṛḍha-bhakti-yogair

udgranthayo hṛdi vidur munayo virāgāḥ

Translation

We know that You are the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead, who manifests His transcendental form in the uncontaminated mode of pure goodness. This transcendental, eternal form of Your personality can be understood only by Your mercy, through unflinching devotional service, by great sages whose hearts have been purified in the devotional way.

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 Is Known Through Merciful Revelation

  1. 1

    The Absolute Truth is understood as impersonal Brahman, localized Paramātmā, and Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead includes understanding the other two features.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s eternal form, pastimes, and paraphernalia are constituted of śuddha-sattva, pure goodness. Unlike material goodness, this goodness has no trace of passion or ignorance.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s personal features can be understood only by His mercy, not by mental speculation. Unflinching devotional service purifies the heart and frees the devotee from material attractions.

Key points from the purport
  • The Absolute Truth can be understood in three features — impersonal Brahman, localized Paramātmā, and Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • They could only understand the Supreme Absolute Truth when they personally saw the Personality of Godhead with their own eyes.
  • The impersonalist may argue that since the Supreme Personality of Godhead was so nicely decorated, He was therefore not the Absolute Truth.

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. tvāmYou
  3. vidāmawe know
  4. bhagavanO Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. paramthe Supreme
  6. ātma-tattvamAbsolute Truth
  7. sattvenaby Your form of pure goodness
  8. sampratinow
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.15

    In this verse: “purified”, “purifies”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “absolute truth”, “understanding”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I relying only on my own reasoning, or also seeking the Lord’s mercy through devotional service?

Practice

Before your devotional practice today, pause and ask the Lord for mercy to serve Him steadily with a purified heart.

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The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Is Known Through Merciful RevelationThis 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 3.15.47? Get an answer from the verses themselves.