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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
3.15.493.16.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.15.50

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

प्रादुश्चकर्थ यदिदं पुरुहूत रूपं

तेनेश निर्वृतिमवापुरलं द‍ृशो न: ।

तस्मा इदं भगवते नम इद्विधेम

योऽनात्मनां दुरुदयो भगवान् प्रतीत: ॥ ५० ॥

prāduścakartha yad idaṁ puruhūta rūpaṁ

teneśa nirvṛtim avāpur alaṁ dṛśo naḥ

tasmā idaṁ bhagavate nama id vidhema

yo ’nātmanāṁ durudayo bhagavān pratītaḥ

Translation

O Lord, we therefore offer our respectful obeisances unto Your eternal form as the Personality of Godhead, which You have so kindly manifested before us. Your supreme, eternal form cannot be seen by unfortunate, less intelligent persons, but we are so much satisfied in our mind and vision to see it.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Love Reveals the Lord’s Eternal Form

  1. 1

    The four sages began their spiritual life as impersonalists. By the grace of their father and spiritual master, Brahmā, they understood the Lord’s eternal, spiritual form and felt completely satisfied.

  2. 2

    Those aspiring to impersonal Brahman or localized Paramātmā still hanker for more. Realizing Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, brings satisfaction in all respects; they become devotees and desire to see His form continually.

  3. 3

    One who develops transcendental love of Kṛṣṇa constantly sees the Lord’s eternal form. The idea that His form comes from contact with māyā prevents devotional vision; the grateful sages instead offered Him respectful obeisances again and again.

Key points from the purport
  • The four sages were impersonalists in the beginning of their spiritual life, but afterwards, by the grace of their father and spiritual master, Brahmā, they understood the eternal, spiritual form of the Lord and felt completely satisfied.
  • Such persons cannot have the pleasure of seeing the eternal form of the Lord.
  • The theory of the impersonalists and so-called yogīs is that the Supreme Lord assumes a particular form when He comes in touch with māyā, although actually He has no form.

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. prāduścakarthaYou have manifested
  2. yatwhich
  3. idamthis
  4. puruhūtaO greatly worshiped
  5. rūpameternal form
  6. tenaby that form
  7. īśaO Lord
  8. nirvṛtimsatisfaction
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional”, “devotees”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.15

    In this verse: “kindly”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.15

    In this verse: “grace”

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

How does understanding that the Lord’s form is eternal and spiritual deepen my desire to serve Him?

Practice

Offer respectful obeisances to Kṛṣṇa today, remembering His eternal, spiritual form and expressing your desire to develop devotional love.

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The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Love Reveals the Lord’s Eternal 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.15.50? Get an answer from the verses themselves.