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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 16: The Two Doorkeepers of Vaikuṇṭha, Jaya and Vijaya, Cursed by the Sages
3.16.213.16.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.16.22

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
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

धर्मस्य ते भगवतस्त्रियुग त्रिभि: स्वै:

पद्‍‌भिश्चराचरमिदं द्विजदेवतार्थम् ।

नूनं भृतं तदभिघाति रजस्तमश्च

सत्त्वेन नो वरदया तनुवा निरस्य ॥ २२ ॥

dharmasya te bhagavatas tri-yuga tribhiḥ svaiḥ

padbhiś carācaram idaṁ dvija-devatārtham

nūnaṁ bhṛtaṁ tad-abhighāti rajas tamaś ca

sattvena no varadayā tanuvā nirasya

Translation

O Lord, You are the personification of all religion. Therefore You manifest Yourself in three millenniums, and thus You protect this universe, which consists of animate and inanimate beings. By Your grace, which is of pure goodness and is the bestower of all blessings, kindly drive away the elements of rajas and tamas for the sake of the demigods and twice-born.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Chant to Cleanse Passion and Ignorance

  1. 1

    The Lord protects religious principles and is called tri-yuga. In Kali-yuga He appears as Lord Caitanya, who is Kṛṣṇa Himself presenting Himself as a devotee.

  2. 2

    The Kumāras recognized their own passion and ignorance in wanting to curse the Lord’s devotees. They prayed for the Lord to remove these weaknesses.

  3. 3

    Chanting the Lord’s holy name cleanses passion and ignorance. Devotees also cultivate austerity, cleanliness and mercy through the principles of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord is addressed in this verse as tri-yuga, or one who appears in three millenniums, namely the Satya, Dvāpara and Tretā yugas.
  • In the other yugas, however, the Lord is a manifest incarnation, and therefore he is addressed as tri-yuga, or the Lord who appears in three yugas.
  • The Lord is manifested as three couples by His six opulences, or three couples of opulences.

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. dharmasyaof the personification of all religion
  2. teof You
  3. bhagavataḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. tri-yugaYou who are manifest in all three millenniums
  5. tribhiḥby three
  6. svaiḥYour own
  7. padbhiḥfeet
  8. cara-acaramanimate and inanimate
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.16

    In this verse: “grace”, “blessings”, “mercy”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protect”, “protects”

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

What weakness can I honestly ask the Lord to help me overcome?

Practice

Spend two quiet minutes chanting “Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa,” praying for freedom from passion and ignorance.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChant to Cleanse Passion and IgnoranceThis 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 3.16.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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