Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 15
The Kingdom of God (Vaikuṇṭha) and the Curse of Jaya and Vijaya
यत्र चाद्य: पुमानास्ते भगवान् शब्दगोचर: । सत्त्वं विष्टभ्य विरजं स्वानां नो मृडयन् वृष: ॥ १५ ॥
yatra cādyaḥ pumān āste bhagavān śabda-gocaraḥ sattvaṁ viṣṭabhya virajaṁ svānāṁ no mṛḍayan vṛṣaḥ
വൈകുണ്ഠത്തിൽ ആദിപുരുഷനായ ഭഗവാൻ വിരാജിക്കുന്നു; വേദവാണിയാൽ അവനെ അറിയാം. അവൻ നിർമല സത്ത്വത്തിൽ നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു, രജസ്-തമസ് രഹിതൻ; ഭക്തർക്കു ധർമ്മോന്നതി നൽകുന്നു.
The kingdom of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the spiritual sky cannot be understood by any process other than hearing from the description of the Vedas. No one can go see it. In this material world also, one who is unable to pay to go to a far distant place by motorized conveyances can only understand about that place from authentic books. Similarly, the Vaikuṇṭha planets in the spiritual sky are beyond this material sky. The modern scientists who are trying to travel in space are having difficulty going even to the nearest planet, the moon, to say nothing of the highest planets within the universe. There is no possibility that they can go beyond the material sky, enter the spiritual sky and see for themselves the spiritual planets, Vaikuṇṭha. Therefore, the kingdom of God in the spiritual sky can be understood only through the authentic descriptions of the Vedas and Purāṇas.
FAQs
This verse states that Bhagavan is śabda-gocaraḥ—He is approached and understood through revealed Vedic sound, meaning authentic scripture and saintly recitation are primary means to know Him.
Shukadeva Gosvami is narrating the glories of the Lord’s abode to King Parikshit as part of the Bhagavatam’s teachings on devotion and the spiritual world.
Cultivate clarity and purity (sattva) through sincere hearing of scripture, truthful living, and devotional practice—then dharma becomes steady and the heart becomes receptive to the Lord’s grace.