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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
3.16.233.16.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.16.24

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

तत्तेऽनभीष्टमिव सत्त्वनिधेर्विधित्सो:

क्षेमं जनाय निजशक्तिभिरुद्‍धृतारे: ।

नैतावता त्र्यधिपतेर्बत विश्वभर्तु-

स्तेज: क्षतं त्ववनतस्य स ते विनोद: ॥ २४ ॥

tat te ’nabhīṣṭam iva sattva-nidher vidhitsoḥ

kṣemaṁ janāya nija-śaktibhir uddhṛtāreḥ

naitāvatā try-adhipater bata viśva-bhartus

tejaḥ kṣataṁ tv avanatasya sa te vinodaḥ

Translation

Dear Lord, You never want the auspicious path to be destroyed, for You are the reservoir of all goodness. Just to benefit people in general, You destroy the evil element by Your mighty potency. You are the proprietor of the three creations and the maintainer of the entire universe. Therefore Your potency is not reduced by Your submissive behavior. Rather, by submission You exhibit Your transcendental pastimes.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Humility Never Diminishes Him

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa’s respectful behavior toward His devotees never reduces His position as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His behavior is exemplary.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s form is eternal, spiritual, and full of bliss and knowledge. Living entities are His parts and parcels, but contact with māyā covers their original spiritual nature.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s appearances reveal His real characteristics to souls who have forgotten their relationship with Him. He acts for their benefit and protects the path of goodness.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa was never reduced in His position by becoming a cowherd boy or by offering respect to Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa or His other devotees like Nanda Mahārāja, Vasudeva, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira and the Pāṇḍavas’ mother, Kuntī.
  • Everyone knew that He was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, yet His behavior was exemplary.
  • All His appearances are meaningful because they show His real characteristics to the conditioned souls, who have forgotten their relationship with the Supreme Lord.

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. tatthat destruction of the path of auspiciousness
  2. teby You
  3. anabhīṣṭamis not liked
  4. ivaas
  5. sattva-nidheḥthe reservoir of all goodness
  6. vidhitsoḥdesiring to do
  7. kṣemamgood
  8. janāyafor the people in general
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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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protects”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “māyā”

  • 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

How does the Lord’s respectful behavior deepen my appreciation of His greatness?

Practice

Reread the translation and take a moment to remember that the Lord’s humility does not lessen His supreme position.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.16's connections

Live this todayThe Lord’s Humility Never Diminishes HimThis 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 3.16.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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