FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.15.14

वसन्ति यत्र पुरुषा: सर्वे वैकुण्ठमूर्तय: । येऽनिमित्तनिमित्तेन धर्मेणाराधयन् हरिम् ॥ १४ ॥
vasanti yatra puruṣāḥ
[vasanti yatra purushaah]
sarve vaikuṇṭha-mūrtayaḥ
[sarve vaikuntha-moortayah]
ye ’nimitta-nimittena
[ye ’nimitta-nimittena]
dharmeṇārādhayan harim
[dharmenaaraadhayan harim]
vasanti — they live yatra — where puruṣāḥ — persons sarve — all vaikuṇṭha-mūrtayaḥ — having a four-handed form similar to that of the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu ye — those Vaikuṇṭha persons animitta — without desire for sense gratification nimittena — caused by dharmeṇa — by devotional service ārādhayan — continuously worshiping harim — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
vasanti yatra puruṣāḥ
vasanti
they live
yatra
where
puruṣāḥ
persons
sarve vaikuṇṭha-mūrtayaḥ
sarve
all
vaikuṇṭha-mūrtayaḥ
having a four-handed form similar to that of the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu
ye ’nimitta-nimittena
ye
those Vaikuṇṭha persons
animitta
without desire for sense gratification
nimittena
caused by
dharmeṇārādhayan harim
dharmeṇa
by devotional service
ārādhayan
continuously worshiping
harim
unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
In the Vaikuṇṭha planets all the residents are similar in form to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They all engage in devotional service to the Lord without desires for sense gratification.

The residents and the form of living in Vaikuṇṭha are described in this verse. The residents are all like the Supreme Personality of Godhead Nārāyaṇa. In the Vaikuṇṭha planets Kṛṣṇa’s plenary feature as four-handed Nārāyaṇa is the predominating Deity, and the residents of Vaikuṇṭhaloka are also four-handed, just contrary to our conception here in the material world. Nowhere in the material world do we find a human being with four hands. In Vaikuṇṭhaloka there is no occupation but the service of the Lord, and this service is not rendered with a purpose. Although every service has a particular result, the devotees never aspire for the fulfillment of their own desires; their desires are fulfilled by rendering transcendental loving service to the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
In that place all men reside with forms like the Lord and they worship the Lord with unmotivated service. They have forms like the Lord. They have no personal motives (animitta) impelling them (nimittena) to worship. Ārādhayan means that they worshipped since ancient times.
The verse insists on the Lord's specific identity — not an idea of God but a person with name, form, and intent. Vague spirituality cannot reach what only personal address can. The pivot here is devotional service to the Lord.
Reflection Questions
  • Where does your idea of God blur into a generic 'higher power' that asks nothing of you?
  • What single attribute of the Lord, taken seriously today, would reorganize a corner of your life?
📝 My note

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