FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.15.27

तस्मिन्नतीत्य मुनय: षडसज्जमाना: कक्षा: समानवयसावथ सप्तमायाम् । देवावचक्षत गृहीतगदौ परार्ध्य- केयूरकुण्डलकिरीटविटङ्कवेषौ ॥ २७ ॥
tasminn atītya munayaḥ ṣaḍ asajjamānāḥ
[tasminn ateetya munayah shad asajjamaanaah]
kakṣāḥ samāna-vayasāv atha saptamāyām
[kakshaah samaana-vayasaav atha saptamaayaam]
devāv acakṣata gṛhīta-gadau parārdhya-
[devaav achakshata griheeta-gadau paraardhya-]
keyūra-kuṇḍala-kirīṭa-viṭaṅka-veṣau
[keyoora-kundala-kireeta-vitanka-veshau]
tasmin — in that Vaikuṇṭha atītya — after passing through munayaḥ — the great sages ṣaṭ — six asajja mānāḥ — without being much attracted kakṣāḥ — walls samāna — equal vayasau — age atha — thereafter saptamāyām — at the seventh gate devau — two Vaikuṇṭha doormen acakṣata — saw gṛhīta — carrying gadau — maces para-ardhya — most valuable keyūra — bracelets kuṇḍala — earrings kirīṭa — helmets viṭaṅka — beautiful veṣau — garments.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasminn atītya munayaḥ ṣaḍ asajjamānāḥ
tasmin
in that Vaikuṇṭha
atītya
after passing through
munayaḥ
the great sages
ṣaṭ
six
asajja mānāḥ
without being much attracted
kakṣāḥ samāna-vayasāv atha saptamāyām
kakṣāḥ
walls
samāna
equal
vayasau
age
atha
thereafter
saptamāyām
at the seventh gate
devāv acakṣata gṛhīta-gadau parārdhya-
devau
two Vaikuṇṭha doormen
acakṣata
saw
gṛhīta
carrying
gadau
maces
para-ardhya
most valuable
keyūra-kuṇḍala-kirīṭa-viṭaṅka-veṣau
keyūra
bracelets
kuṇḍala
earrings
kirīṭa
helmets
viṭaṅka
beautiful
veṣau
garments.
After passing through the six entrances of Vaikuṇṭha-purī, the Lord’s residence, without feeling astonishment at all the decorations, they saw at the seventh gate two shining beings of the same age, armed with maces and adorned with most valuable jewelry, earrings, diamonds, helmets, garments, etc.

The sages were so eager to see the Lord within Vaikuṇṭha-purī that they did not care to see the transcendental decorations of the six gates which they passed by one after another. But at the seventh door they found two doormen of the same age. The significance of the doormen’s being of the same age is that in the Vaikuṇṭha planets there is no old age, so one cannot distinguish who is older than whom. The inhabitants of Vaikuṇṭha are decorated like the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, with śaṅkha, cakra, gadā and padma (conch, wheel, club and lotus).

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
In Vaikuṇṭha, after passing through six gates, the sages with no attachment saw at the seventh gate two gate keepers adorned with armbands, earrings crowns, and attractive clothing. The gate keepers with four blue arms were holding clubs and were decorated with garlands surrounded by maddened bees. Their faces were slightly agitated with anger, expressed by frowning brows, heavily breathing nostrils and red eyes. In Vaikuṇṭha (tasmin), passing through six walls with gates, the sages, without attachment, since they had realized Brahman from birth, saw the two doormen. They did not have any attraction by material intelligence to the gates, walls or to the aspects of form, fragrance or beauty they experienced there. At the seventh wall, they saw two guards Jaya and Vijaya holding clubs. Their faces were slightly disturbed with anger (manāg rabhasam). The symptoms are described. Their nostrils (noun must be supplied) were breathing heavily (sphuta-nirgamābhyām).
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 verse keeps returning to Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Reflection Questions
  • Whom do you actually address when you pray — a concept, or a person?
  • How does relating to a person, rather than a principle, change how you speak in prayer?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 15