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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
3.16.203.16.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.16.21

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

यस्तां विविक्तचरितैरनुवर्तमानां

नात्याद्रियत्परमभागवतप्रसङ्ग: ।

स त्वं द्विजानुपथपुण्यरज: पुनीत:

श्रीवत्सलक्ष्म किमगा भगभाजनस्त्वम् ॥ २१ ॥

yas tāṁ vivikta-caritair anuvartamānāṁ

nātyādriyat parama-bhāgavata-prasaṅgaḥ

sa tvaṁ dvijānupatha-puṇya-rajaḥ-punītaḥ

śrīvatsa-lakṣma kim agā bhaga-bhājanas tvam

Translation

O Lord, You are exceedingly attached to the activities of Your pure devotees, yet You are never attached to the goddesses of fortune who constantly engage in Your transcendental loving service. How can You be purified, therefore, by the dust of the path traversed by the brāhmaṇas, and how can You be glorified or made fortunate by the marks of Śrīvatsa on Your chest?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Self-Sufficient Lord Honors His Devotees

  1. 1

    The Lord possesses six unlimited opulences: wealth, fame, strength, beauty, knowledge and renunciation. Though served by countless goddesses of fortune, He remains unattached.

  2. 2

    The Lord appreciates the steady service of tulasī leaves, which remain at His lotus feet. He is exceedingly attached to the activities of His pure devotees.

  3. 3

    The Lord does not depend on anyone’s mercy for His opulence. By crediting the blessings of brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas, He teaches us to respect His devotees.

Key points from the purport
  • All the demigods and other living entities worship Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, just to get her favor, yet the Lord is never attached to her because He can create an unlimited number of such goddesses for His transcendental service.
  • The goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, is sometimes envious of the tulasī leaves which are placed at the lotus feet of the Lord, for they remain fixed there and do not move, whereas Lakṣmījī, although stationed by the chest of the Lord, sometimes has to please other devotees who pray for her favor.
  • Lakṣmījī sometimes has to go to satisfy her numerous devotees, but tulasī leaves never forsake their position, and the Lord therefore appreciates the service of the tulasī more than the service of Lakṣmī.

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. yaḥwho
  2. tāmLakṣmī
  3. viviktacompletely pure
  4. caritaiḥdevotional services
  5. anuvartamānāmserving
  6. nanot
  7. atyādriyatattached
  8. paramathe highest
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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: “attached”, “wealth”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.16

    In this verse: “mercy”, “blessings”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

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 I value steady devotional service more than wealth or recognition?

Practice

Offer a few sincere words of respect to a devotee today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Self-Sufficient Lord Honors His DevoteesThis 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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