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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 16: The Two Doorkeepers of Vaikuṇṭha, Jaya and Vijaya, Cursed by the Sages
3.16.143.16.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.16.15

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 3.16.13inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Brahmā → the demigods

ते योगमाययारब्धपारमेष्ठ्यमहोदयम् ।

प्रोचु: प्राञ्जलयो विप्रा: प्रहृष्टा: क्षुभितत्वच: ॥ १५ ॥

te yoga-māyayārabdha-

pārameṣṭhya-mahodayam

procuḥ prāñjalayo viprāḥ

prahṛṣṭāḥ kṣubhita-tvacaḥ

Translation

The four brāhmaṇa sages were nevertheless extremely delighted to behold Him, and they experienced a thrill throughout their bodies. They then spoke as follows to the Lord, who had revealed the multiglories of the Supreme Personality through His internal potency, yoga-māyā.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Opulence Surpasses Material Grandeur

  1. 1

    The sages were almost too puzzled to speak before the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Yet their joy was so great that the hairs of their bodies stood erect.

  2. 2

    The highest material opulence is that of Brahmā, called pārameṣṭhya. Even this cannot compare with the opulence of the Supreme Lord.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s spiritual opulence is revealed through His internal potency, yoga-māyā. Material opulence is caused by mahā-māyā.

Key points from the purport
  • The sages were almost too puzzled to speak before the Supreme Personality of Godhead for the first time, and the hairs of their bodies stood erect due to their extreme joy.
  • The highest opulence in the material world is called pārameṣṭhya, the opulence of Brahmā.
  • But that material opulence of Brahmā, who lives on the topmost planet within this material world, cannot compare to the opulence of the Supreme Lord because the transcendental opulence in the spiritual world is caused by yoga-māyā, whereas the opulence in the material world is caused by mahā-māyā.

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 16: The Two Doorkeepers of Vaikuṇṭha, Jaya and Vijaya, Cursed by the Sages

The Lord honors the sages and assures His fallen doorkeepers that they will soon return.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.16
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tethose
  2. yoga-māyayāthrough His internal potency
  3. ārabdhahad been revealed
  4. pārameṣṭhyaof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. mahā-udayammultiglories
  6. procuḥspoke
  7. prāñjalayaḥwith folded hands
  8. viprāḥthe four brāhmaṇas
  9. prahṛṣṭāḥextremely delighted
  10. kṣubhita-tvacaḥhair standing on end
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.16

    In this verse: “material”

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

What do I admire more: material grandeur or the Lord’s spiritual glory?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute reflecting on how even the highest material opulence cannot compare with the Lord’s glory.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Opulence Surpasses Material GrandeurThis 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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