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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
3.28.153.28.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.28.16

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

काञ्चीगुणोल्लसच्छ्रोणिं हृदयाम्भोजविष्टरम् ।

दर्शनीयतमं शान्तं मनोनयनवर्धनम् ॥ १६ ॥

kāñcī-guṇollasac-chroṇiṁ

hṛdayāmbhoja-viṣṭaram

darśanīyatamaṁ śāntaṁ

mano-nayana-vardhanam

Translation

His loins and hips encircled by a girdle, He stands on the lotus of His devotee’s heart. He is most charming to look at, and His serene aspect gladdens the eyes and souls of the devotees who behold Him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Beauty Satisfies the Heart

  1. 1

    The Lord stands on the lotus of His devotee’s heart. His serene appearance gladdens the devotee’s eyes and soul.

  2. 2

    His beauty so completely satisfies the devotee-yogī that the devotee wishes to see nothing else. Material beauty does not bring this complete satisfaction.

  3. 3

    Our desires to see, hear and touch reach perfection when used for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Actual yogīs fix their minds on His personal form.

Key points from the purport
  • The word darśanīyatamam, which is used in this verse, means that the Lord is so beautiful that the devotee- yogī does not wish to see anything else.
  • Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His eternal form is so beautiful and pleasing to the heart of the devotee, He does not attract the impersonalists, who want to meditate on His impersonal aspect.
  • The actual yogīs, with half-closed eyes, fix on the form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not upon anything void or impersonal.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kāñcīgirdle
  2. guṇaquality
  3. ullasatbrilliant
  4. śroṇimHis loins and hips
  5. hṛdayaheart
  6. ambhojalotus
  7. viṣṭaramwhose seat
  8. darśanīya-tamammost charming to look at
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.28

    In this verse: “devotee’s”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.28

    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

How could I use my desire to see or hear something beautiful for the Lord’s satisfaction?

Practice

Read this description aloud once, using both your voice and hearing to attend to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Beauty Satisfies the HeartThis 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 3.28.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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