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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
3.16.243.16.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.16.25

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

यं वानयोर्दममधीश भवान् विधत्ते

वृत्तिं नु वा तदनुमन्महि निर्व्यलीकम् ।

अस्मासु वा य उचितो ध्रियतां स दण्डो

येऽनागसौ वयमयुङ्‌क्ष्महि किल्बिषेण ॥ २५ ॥

yaṁ vānayor damam adhīśa bhavān vidhatte

vṛttiṁ nu vā tad anumanmahi nirvyalīkam

asmāsu vā ya ucito dhriyatāṁ sa daṇḍo

ye ’nāgasau vayam ayuṅkṣmahi kilbiṣeṇa

Translation

O Lord, whatever punishment You wish to award to these two innocent persons, or also to us, we shall accept without duplicity. We understand that we have cursed two faultless persons.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Repent Rather Than Find Devotees’ Faults

  1. 1

    The Kumāras repented of cursing Jaya and Vijaya. They acknowledged that they had cursed faultless servants of the Lord.

  2. 2

    One who faithfully engages in transcendental loving service possesses the good qualities of the demigods. An accidental error should not overshadow that person’s devotion.

  3. 3

    We should not seek faults in devotees. Recognizing their own passion and ignorance, the Kumāras were ready to accept the Lord’s correction without duplicity.

Key points from the purport
  • The sages, the four Kumāras, now reject their cursing of the two doorkeepers, Jaya and Vijaya, because they are now conscious that persons who engage in the service of the Lord cannot be at fault at any stage.
  • In Bhagavad-gītā also it is confirmed that the devotee who faithfully serves the Supreme Lord, even if found to commit a gross mistake, should be considered a sādhu, or saintly person.
  • Due to former habits he may commit some wrong, but because he is engaged in the service of the Lord, that wrong should not be taken very seriously.

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. yamwhich
  2. vāor
  3. anayoḥof both of them
  4. damampunishment
  5. adhīśaO Lord
  6. bhavānYour Lordship
  7. vidhatteawards
  8. vṛttimbetter existence
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotees”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.16

    In this verse: “understand”

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

Am I allowing someone’s temporary mistake to overshadow their sincere service to the Lord?

Practice

Refrain from one faultfinding comment today and instead remember that devotee’s sincere service.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRepent Rather Than Find Devotees’ FaultsThis 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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