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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
3.15.473.15.49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.15.48

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Kumārassince 3.15.46inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Brahmā → the demigods

नात्यन्तिकं विगणयन्त्यपि ते प्रसादं

किम्वन्यदर्पितभयं भ्रुव उन्नयैस्ते ।

येऽङ्ग त्वदङ्‌घ्रि शरणा भवत: कथाया:

कीर्तन्यतीर्थयशस: कुशला रसज्ञा: ॥ ४८ ॥

nātyantikaṁ vigaṇayanty api te prasādaṁ

kimv anyad arpita-bhayaṁ bhruva unnayais te

ye ’ṅga tvad-aṅghri-śaraṇā bhavataḥ kathāyāḥ

kīrtanya-tīrtha-yaśasaḥ kuśalā rasa-jñāḥ

Translation

Persons who are very expert and most intelligent in understanding things as they are engage in hearing narrations of the auspicious activities and pastimes of the Lord, which are worth chanting and worth hearing. Such persons do not care even for the highest material benediction, namely liberation, to say nothing of other less important benedictions like the material happiness of the heavenly kingdom.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hearing the Lord’s Glories Is Supreme

  1. 1

    Devotees enjoy transcendental bliss in hearing and chanting the Lord’s auspicious activities. This pleasure is completely different from material happiness.

  2. 2

    Pure devotees seek neither heavenly enjoyment nor any kind of liberation. They are concerned only with glorifying the Supreme Lord, knowing that pleasurable material positions are temporary.

  3. 3

    Pure devotional service is śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam—hearing and chanting the Lord’s glories. Hearing His activities from pure devotees is acceptable for everyone and is the supreme benediction for mankind.

Key points from the purport
  • The transcendental bliss enjoyed by the devotees of the Lord is completely different from the material happiness enjoyed by less intelligent persons.
  • Pure devotees, who take transcendental pleasure in hearing and chanting the glories of the Lord, do not care for any kind of liberation; even if they are offered the five liberations, they refuse to accept them, as stated in the Bhāgavatam in the Third Canto.
  • One should engage himself in hearing from pure devotees about the activities of the Lord.

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. nanot
  2. ātyantikamliberation
  3. vigaṇayanticare for
  4. apieven
  5. tethose
  6. prasādambenedictions
  7. kim uwhat to speak
  8. anyatother material happinesses
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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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.15

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”, “narrations”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • 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.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I approach devotional service for rewards, or for the pleasure of hearing and glorifying the Lord?

Practice

Spend five minutes today hearing a pure devotee narrate the Lord’s activities, without asking for a material reward.

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The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHearing the Lord’s Glories Is SupremeThis 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 3.15.48? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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