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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 25: The Glories of Devotional Service
3.25.343.25.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.25.35

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Kapilasince 3.25.32inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

पश्यन्ति ते मे रुचिराण्यम्ब सन्त:

प्रसन्नवक्त्रारुणलोचनानि ।

रूपाणि दिव्यानि वरप्रदानि

साकं वाचं स्पृहणीयां वदन्ति ॥ ३५ ॥

paśyanti te me rucirāṇy amba santaḥ

prasanna-vaktrāruṇa-locanāni

rūpāṇi divyāni vara-pradāni

sākaṁ vācaṁ spṛhaṇīyāṁ vadanti

Translation

O My mother, My devotees always see the smiling face of My form, with eyes like the rising morning sun. They like to see My various transcendental forms, which are all benevolent, and they also talk favorably with Me.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seeing the Lord With Devotional Love

  1. 1

    Devotees do not worship idols; they directly worship the Personality of Godhead in His arcā incarnation. This worshipable form is not different from Him and allows Him to be seen by our material senses.

  2. 2

    The devotees’ vision is filled with love of God. They behold the Deity’s smiling face as transcendental and spiritual and appreciate the decoration of His body.

  3. 3

    The spiritual master teaches how to decorate the Deity, cleanse the temple and offer worship. Devotees express their minds before the Deity, although speaking directly with the Lord requires very elevated devotion.

Key points from the purport
  • Māyāvādīs and atheists accept the forms of the Deities in the temple of the Lord as idols, but devotees do not worship idols.
  • As soon as they see the Lord in His different forms, the devotees become saturated with love, for they do not find any difference between the Lord and His form in the temple, as do the atheists.
  • The smiling face of the Deity in the temple is beheld by the devotees as transcendental and spiritual, and the decoration of the body of the Lord is very much appreciated by the devotees.

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

Entanglement → Insight and liberation. Inquiry matures into instruction in devotion and spiritual nature.

Chapters 25–33 of Canto 3: Kapila instructs Devahūti. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 25: The Glories of Devotional Service

Kapila teaches Devahūti the glories of devotional service, association with devotees, and freedom from material attachment.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.25
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. paśyantisee
  2. tethey
  3. meMy
  4. rucirāṇibeautiful
  5. ambaO mother
  6. santaḥdevotees
  7. prasannasmiling
  8. vaktraface
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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 3.25

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotion”, “worship”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “favorably”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 3.25

    In this verse: “mother”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might remembering that the Deity is not different from the Lord deepen my attention during worship?

Practice

Today, take a quiet moment before the Deity to appreciate His form and express your wish to serve Him.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todaySeeing the Lord With Devotional LoveThis 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 3.25.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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