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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
3.16.73.16.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.16.8

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Lordsince 3.16.7inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Brahmā → the demigods

नाहं तथाद्मि यजमानहविर्विताने

श्‍च्योतद्‍घृतप्लुतमदन् हुतभुङ्‍मुखेन ।

यद्ब्राह्मणस्य मुखतश्चरतोऽनुघासं

तुष्टस्य मय्यवहितैर्निजकर्मपाकै: ॥ ८ ॥

nāhaṁ tathādmi yajamāna-havir vitāne

ścyotad-ghṛta-plutam adan huta-bhuṅ-mukhena

yad brāhmaṇasya mukhataś carato ’nughāsaṁ

tuṣṭasya mayy avahitair nija-karma-pākaiḥ

Translation

I do not enjoy the oblations offered by the sacrificers in the sacrificial fire, which is one of My own mouths, with the same relish as I do the delicacies overflowing with ghee which are offered to the mouths of the brāhmaṇas who have dedicated to Me the results of their activities and who are ever satisfied with My prasāda.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Please the Lord by Feeding His Devotees

  1. 1

    A Vaiṣṇava dedicates the results of all activities to the Lord and does not eat anything without first offering it to Him.

  2. 2

    The Lord accepts offerings through the sacrificial fire, but He relishes offerings to the mouths of brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas even more.

  3. 3

    Feeding a brāhmaṇa or Vaiṣṇava is praised above performing hundreds of thousands of sacrifices. Chanting the holy name and pleasing the Vaiṣṇava are recommended for spiritual advancement in this age.

Key points from the purport
  • Even though Haridāsa was born of a Muhammadan family, Advaita Prabhu offered him the first dish of prasāda after the performance of a sacred fire ceremony.
  • Haridāsa Ṭhākura informed him that he was born of a Muhammadan family and asked why Advaita Prabhu was offering the first dish to a Muhammadan instead of an elevated brāhmaṇa.
  • Advaita Prabhu asserted that by offering the first dish to Haridāsa Ṭhākura, he was getting the result of feeding one hundred thousand brāhmaṇas.

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. nanot
  2. ahamI
  3. tathāon the other hand
  4. admiI eat
  5. yajamānaby the sacrificer
  6. haviḥthe oblations
  7. vitānein the sacrificial fire
  8. ścyotatpouring
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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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chanting”, “holy name”

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 can I make sharing food an act of devotional service?

Practice

Share a small portion of prasāda with a devotee today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPlease the Lord by Feeding 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.16.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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