1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 1 · Chapter 13: Dhṛtarāṣṭra Quits Home
1.13.531.13.55

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.13.54

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 1.13.41inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

जितासनो जितश्वास: प्रत्याहृतषडिन्द्रिय: ।

हरिभावनया ध्वस्तरज:सत्त्वतमोमल: ॥ ५४ ॥

jitāsano jita-śvāsaḥ

pratyāhṛta-ṣaḍ-indriyaḥ

hari-bhāvanayā dhvasta-

rajaḥ-sattva-tamo-malaḥ

Translation

One who has controlled the sitting postures [the yogic āsanas] and the breathing process can turn the senses toward the Absolute Personality of Godhead and thus become immune to the contaminations of the modes of material nature, namely mundane goodness, passion and ignorance.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Engage the Senses in Loving Service

  1. 1

    Dhṛtarāṣṭra's yogic practices were successful because he concentrated on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari. All his senses were being engaged in the Lord's service.

  2. 2

    Passion and ignorance increase the desire for enjoyment, wealth and power. Even material goodness, with its knowledge and morality, remains a cause of bondage.

  3. 3

    Bhakti-yoga directly engages the senses in loving service to the Lord and frees one from the material modes. Its culmination is absorption in pleasing the Supreme Lord Hari.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus all his senses were being engaged in the service of the Lord.
  • The bhakti-yoga process, therefore, directly applies the senses to the loving service of the Lord.
  • This process of turning the senses from material attachment to the loving transcendental service of the Lord is called pratyāhāra, and the very process is called prāṇāyāma, ultimately ending in samādhi, or absorption in pleasing the Supreme Lord Hari by all means.

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

Bereavement → Renunciation. The worldly support system recedes and attachment is exposed.

Chapters 13–15 of Canto 1: Dhṛtarāṣṭra departs; Kṛṣṇa disappears; Pāṇḍavas retire. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 13: Dhṛtarāṣṭra Quits Home

Vidura warns of inevitable death; Dhṛtarāṣṭra leaves home, and Yudhiṣṭhira finds his elders absent.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. jita-āsanaḥone who has controlled the sitting posture
  2. jita-śvāsaḥone who has controlled the breathing process
  3. pratyāhṛtaturning back
  4. ṣaṭsix
  5. indriyaḥsenses
  6. harithe Absolute Personality of Godhead
  7. bhāvanayāabsorbed in
  8. dhvastaconquered
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.13

    In this verse: “material”, “wealth”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 1.13

    In this verse: “contaminations”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.13

    In this verse: “bhakti-yoga”

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 can I turn one of my senses from material attachment toward pleasing the Lord?

Practice

Use your voice and ears to read aloud and hear one passage about Lord Hari, with the intention of pleasing Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEngage the Senses in Loving ServiceThis 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 1.13.54? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories