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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 28: Kapila’s Instructions on the Execution of Devotional Service
3.28.163.28.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.28.17

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

अपीच्यदर्शनं शश्वत्सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम् ।

सन्तं वयसि कैशोरे भृत्यानुग्रहकातरम् ॥ १७ ॥

apīcya-darśanaṁ śaśvat

sarva-loka-namaskṛtam

santaṁ vayasi kaiśore

bhṛtyānugraha-kātaram

Translation

The Lord is eternally very beautiful, and He is worshipable by all the inhabitants of every planet. He is ever youthful and always eager to bestow His blessing upon His devotees.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Ever-Youthful Lord Favors His Devotees

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord is worshipable by the inhabitants of every planet. His beauty is eternal, not a temporary appearance covering an impersonal reality.

  2. 2

    Although He is the original person, He never appears old. He always appears as an ever-fresh, blooming youth.

  3. 3

    The Lord acts equally toward all living entities, yet He is especially inclined toward those engaged in devotional service. As devotees eagerly serve Him, He eagerly bestows blessings upon them.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord’s facial expression always indicates that He is ready to show favor and benediction to the devotees; for the nondevotees, however, He is silent.
  • The same fact is confirmed here: He is always anxious to show favor to the devotees.
  • Just as the devotees are always eager to render service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord is also very eager to bestow benediction upon the pure 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 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. apīcya-darśanamvery beautiful to see
  2. śaśvateternal
  3. sarva-lokaby all the inhabitants of every planet
  4. namaḥ-kṛtamworshipable
  5. santamsituated
  6. vayasiin youth
  7. kaiśorein boyhood
  8. bhṛtyaupon His devotee
  9. anugrahato bestow blessings
  10. kātarameager
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: “devotees”, “worshipable”, “devotional service”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.28

    In this verse: “blessing”, “blessings”

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 does the Lord’s eagerness to bless His devotees encourage my eagerness to serve?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer expressing your wish to serve the Lord.

5

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 · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 other lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayThe Ever-Youthful Lord Favors 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 3.28.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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