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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
3.16.83.16.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.16.9

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

येषां बिभर्म्यहमखण्डविकुण्ठयोग-

मायाविभूतिरमलाङ्‌घ्रि रज: किरीटै: ।

विप्रांस्तु को न विषहेत यदर्हणाम्भ:

सद्य: पुनाति सहचन्द्रललामलोकान् ॥ ९ ॥

yeṣāṁ bibharmy aham akhaṇḍa-vikuṇṭha-yoga-

māyā-vibhūtir amalāṅghri-rajaḥ kirīṭaiḥ

viprāṁs tu ko na viṣaheta yad-arhaṇāmbhaḥ

sadyaḥ punāti saha-candra-lalāma-lokān

Translation

I am the master of My unobstructed internal energy, and the water of the Ganges is the remnant left after My feet are washed. That water sanctifies the three worlds, along with Lord Śiva, who bears it on his head. If I can take the dust of the feet of the Vaiṣṇava on My head, who will refuse to do the same?

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow the Lord in Honoring Devotees

  1. 1

    The opulences of the Lord’s internal, spiritual energy remain undisturbed. Material opulences are temporary reflections of spiritual reality.

  2. 2

    The Lord is supreme in both the spiritual and material worlds. The Ganges, which has washed His feet, sanctifies the three worlds along with Lord Śiva.

  3. 3

    Despite His supremacy, the Lord bears the dust of the Vaiṣṇava’s feet on His head. His own example teaches us to respect brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas.

Key points from the purport
  • The difference between the internal and external energies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is that in the internal energy, or in the spiritual world, all the opulences are undisturbed, whereas in the external or material energy, all the opulences are temporary manifestations.
  • In the spiritual world the predominating Deity is the Lord Himself, whereas in the material world there are many lords.
  • The Lord says that although He is the predominating factor of the internal energy and although the material world is sanctified just by the water that has washed His feet, He has the greatest respect for the brāhmaṇa and the Vaiṣṇava.

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. yeṣāmof the brāhmaṇas
  2. bibharmiI bear
  3. ahamI
  4. akhaṇḍaunbroken
  5. vikuṇṭhaunobstructed
  6. yoga-māyāinternal energy
  7. vibhūtiḥopulence
  8. amalapure
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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

If the Lord Himself honors His devotees, how should I treat them?

Practice

Offer a respectful greeting to a devotee today, remembering the Lord’s example.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFollow the Lord in Honoring 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.

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