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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.16.6

Who is speaking and story frame

यस्यामृतामलयश:श्रवणावगाह:

सद्य: पुनाति जगदाश्वपचाद्विकुण्ठ: ।

सोऽहं भवद्भय उपलब्धसुतीर्थकीर्ति-

श्छिन्द्यां स्वबाहुमपि व: प्रतिकूलवृत्तिम् ॥ ६ ॥

yasyāmṛtāmala-yaśaḥ-śravaṇāvagāhaḥ

sadyaḥ punāti jagad āśvapacād vikuṇṭhaḥ

so ’haṁ bhavadbhya upalabdha-sutīrtha-kīrtiś

chindyāṁ sva-bāhum api vaḥ pratikūla-vṛttim

Translation

Anyone in the entire world, even down to the caṇḍāla, who lives by cooking and eating the flesh of the dog, is immediately purified if he takes bath in hearing through the ear the glorification of My name, fame, etc. Now you have realized Me without doubt; therefore I will not hesitate to lop off My own arm if its conduct is found hostile to you.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sincere Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Purifies Everyone

  1. 1

    Hearing the glorification of the Lord’s name and fame purifies anyone, whatever their birth. Devotees can come from every section of human society.

  2. 2

    A Vaiṣṇava should not be judged by the body or caste of birth. One who sincerely continues in Kṛṣṇa consciousness will very soon be fully purified.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa is ready to protect His sincere devotee by all means. Here He declares that He would even cut off His own arm if it acted against His devotees.

Key points from the purport
  • Anyone who takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness in all sincerity, even if he is not very advanced in good behavior, is purified.
  • As stated in this verse and in many places in Bhagavad-gītā, even if one is not born in a brāhmaṇa family, or even if he is born in a family of caṇḍālas, if he simply takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness he is immediately purified.
  • The conclusion is that if one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness with all seriousness, he is to be understood as already purified, and Kṛṣṇa is ready to give him protection by all means.

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. yasyaof whom
  2. amṛtanectar
  3. amalauncontaminated
  4. yaśaḥglories
  5. śravaṇahearing
  6. avagāhaḥentering into
  7. sadyaḥimmediately
  8. punātipurifies
3

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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.16

    In this verse: “hearing”, “glorification”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.16

    In this verse: “purified”, “purifies”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protect”

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 recognize sincere devotion without judging someone by their birth or background?

Practice

Spend a few minutes attentively hearing the glorification of Kṛṣṇa’s name or fame.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySincere Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Purifies EveryoneThis 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 3.16.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.