1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 16: The Two Doorkeepers of Vaikuṇṭha, Jaya and Vijaya, Cursed by the Sages
3.16.173.16.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.16.18

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The sagessince 3.16.16inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Brahmā → the demigods

त्वत्त: सनातनो धर्मो रक्ष्यते तनुभिस्तव ।

धर्मस्य परमो गुह्यो निर्विकारो भवान्मत: ॥ १८ ॥

tvattaḥ sanātano dharmo

rakṣyate tanubhis tava

dharmasya paramo guhyo

nirvikāro bhavān mataḥ

Translation

You are the source of the eternal occupation of all living entities, and by Your multimanifestations of Personalities of Godhead, You have always protected religion. You are the supreme objective of religious principles, and in our opinion You are inexhaustible and unchangeable eternally.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Surrender to Kṛṣṇa Is Religion’s Goal

  1. 1

    The Lord is the source and protector of eternal religious principles. Their most confidential conclusion is Kṛṣṇa’s instruction to surrender unto Him.

  2. 2

    Religious duties that do not lead to Kṛṣṇa consciousness are described as wasted labor. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, not the demigods, is the ultimate goal of religion.

  3. 3

    The Lord, His servant, and His abode are eternal. The result of devotional service is therefore eternal, unlike the temporary attainment of heavenly planets.

Key points from the purport
  • The statement in this verse dharmasya paramo guhyaḥ refers to the most confidential part of all religious principles.
  • Here also the sages confirm the statement that the Supreme Lord, not the demigods, is the ultimate goal of all religious principles.
  • The sages wanted to stress that although the Lord, out of His causeless mercy, says that He worships the brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas, actually the Lord is worshipable not only by the brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas but also by the demigods.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tvattaḥfrom You
  2. sanātanaḥeternal
  3. dharmaḥoccupation
  4. rakṣyateis protected
  5. tanubhiḥby multimanifestations
  6. tavaYour
  7. dharmasyaof religious principles
  8. paramaḥthe supreme
3

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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.16

    In this verse: “religion”, “principles”, “religious”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 3.16

    In this verse: “protected”, “protector”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.16

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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

Are my religious activities helping me surrender to Kṛṣṇa and serve Him?

Practice

Before one devotional activity today, consciously make surrender to Kṛṣṇa your purpose.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySurrender to Kṛṣṇa Is Religion’s GoalThis 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 3.16.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories