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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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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 16: The Two Doorkeepers of Vaikuṇṭha, Jaya and Vijaya, Cursed by the Sages
3.16.13.16.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.16.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Personality of Godheadsince 3.16.2inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Brahmā → the demigods

श्रीभगवानुवाच

एतौ तौ पार्षदौ मह्यं जयो विजय एव च ।

कदर्थीकृत्य मां यद्वो बह्वक्रातामतिक्रमम् ॥ २ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

etau tau pārṣadau mahyaṁ

jayo vijaya eva ca

kadarthī-kṛtya māṁ yad vo

bahv akrātām atikramam

Translation

The Personality of Godhead said: These attendants of Mine, Jaya and Vijaya by name, have committed a great offense against you because of ignoring Me.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offending a Devotee Neglects the Lord

  1. 1

    The Lord says that Jaya and Vijaya offended the sages because they ignored Him. Offending a devotee means neglecting the Supreme Lord Himself.

  2. 2

    Even in Vaikuṇṭha, an offense may occur by chance, but the Lord protects His servitor. The doormen’s service meant that advanced devotees did not expect their annihilation.

  3. 3

    The Lord personally came to the sages when they were prevented from seeing His lotus feet. He mercifully arranges that His devotees are not deprived of His audience.

Key points from the purport
  • To commit an offense at the feet of a devotee of the Lord is a great wrong.
  • Lord Caitanya could understand his humility, and since he did not go to see the temple, Lord Caitanya Himself, who is nondifferent from Jagannātha, used to come and sit with Haridāsa Ṭhākura daily.
  • His devotees were prevented from seeing His lotus feet, but the Lord Himself came to see them on the same lotus feet for which they aspired.

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. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Personality of Godhead said
  2. etauthese two
  3. tauthey
  4. pārṣadauattendants
  5. mahyamof Mine
  6. jayaḥnamed Jaya
  7. vijayaḥnamed Vijaya
  8. evacertainly
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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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 3.16

    In this verse: “offense”, “offended”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.16

    In this verse: “mercifully”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protects”

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

Do my dealings with devotees show that I remember their relationship with the Lord?

Practice

Speak with particular care and respect in one interaction with a devotee today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOffending a Devotee Neglects the LordThis 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 3.16.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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