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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 28: Kapila’s Instructions on the Execution of Devotional Service
3.28.143.28.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.28.15

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Personality of Godheadsince 3.28.1inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraLord Kapila → Devahūti

मत्तद्विरेफकलया परीतं वनमालया ।

परार्ध्यहारवलयकिरीटाङ्गदनूपुरम् ॥ १५ ॥

matta-dvirepha-kalayā

parītaṁ vana-mālayā

parārdhya-hāra-valaya-

kirīṭāṅgada-nūpuram

Translation

He also wears around His neck a garland of attractive sylvan flowers, and a swarm of bees, intoxicated by its delicious fragrance, hums about the garland. He is further superbly adorned with a pearl necklace, a crown and pairs of armlets, bracelets and anklets.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Beauty Never Fades

  1. 1

    The Lord wears a fresh garland of forest flowers, surrounded by bees attracted to its fragrance. He enjoys their sweet humming.

  2. 2

    In Vaikuṇṭha, everything retains its freshness and does not fade. Even flowers picked for garlands keep their original fragrance.

  3. 3

    Spiritual things are eternal and inexhaustible. The Lord’s ornaments bear spiritual jewels and pearls whose value cannot be measured materially.

Key points from the purport
  • Even the flowers picked from the trees and plants remain fresh, for everything in the spiritual sky retains its originality and does not fade.
  • The fragrance of the flowers picked from the trees and made into garlands does not fade, for both the trees and the flowers are spiritual.
  • The bees are equally attracted to the flowers whether they are on the garland or on the trees.

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 28: Kapila’s Instructions on the Execution of Devotional Service

Kapila teaches disciplined yoga and devoted meditation upon the Lord’s eternal form.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.28
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. mattaintoxicated
  2. dvi-rephawith bees
  3. kalayāhumming
  4. parītamgarlanded
  5. vana-mālayāwith a garland of forest flowers
  6. parārdhyapriceless
  7. hārapearl necklace
  8. valayabracelets
3

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 3.28

    In this verse: “materially”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 3.28

    In this verse: “sweet”

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

What does the unfading freshness of the Lord’s garland teach me about spiritual beauty?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute recalling the Lord’s fresh garland and the humming bees.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Beauty Never FadesThis 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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