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

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 1 · Chapter 2: Divinity and Divine Service
1.2.91.2.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.2.10

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.2.2inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

कामस्य नेन्द्रियप्रीतिर्लाभो जीवेत यावता ।

जीवस्य तत्त्वजिज्ञासा नार्थो यश्चेह कर्मभि: ॥ १० ॥

kāmasya nendriya-prītir

lābho jīveta yāvatā

jīvasya tattva-jijñāsā

nārtho yaś ceha karmabhiḥ

Translation

Life’s desires should never be directed toward sense gratification. One should desire only a healthy life, or self-preservation, since a human being is meant for inquiry about the Absolute Truth. Nothing else should be the goal of one’s works.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Maintain Life to Seek the Absolute Truth

  1. 1

    Human life is meant for inquiry about the Absolute Truth, not for sense gratification. This inquiry should be the goal of one's work.

  2. 2

    The senses require enough satisfaction to preserve a healthy life. They are not meant for unrestricted enjoyment.

  3. 3

    Serious seekers of the Absolute Truth are not attracted by unnecessary sense gratification. Seeking the Truth brings happiness and reduces such unnecessary engagements.

Key points from the purport
  • Even those who are on the path of salvation desire to become one with the Absolute Truth and desire to commit spiritual suicide for sense gratification.
  • One should satisfy the senses only insomuch as required for self-preservation, and not for sense gratification.
  • In every sphere of life, therefore, the ultimate end must be seeking after the Absolute Truth, and that sort of engagement will make one happy because he will be less engaged in varieties of sense gratification.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 3

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.25.5

As stated in the Second Chapter of the First Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.10), a human being’s only business is inquiring from a bona fide spiritual master about extrication from the entanglement of karma-bandha-phāṅsa.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.31.6

As confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.10), kāmasya nendriya-prītiḥ.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 10.10.16

As recommended elsewhere in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.10): The real business of human life is to keep oneself fit for advancement in spiritual realization.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Concern → Purpose. A spiritually urgent question emerges for the age of Kali.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 1: The sages ask the ultimate questions. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: Divinity and Divine Service

Sūta explains how hearing about Kṛṣṇa and rendering devotional service purify the heart.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kāmasyaof desires
  2. nanot
  3. indriyasenses
  4. prītiḥsatisfaction
  5. lābhaḥgain
  6. jīvetaself-preservation
  7. yāvatāso much so
  8. jīvasyaof the living being
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.2

    In this verse: “inquiry”, “absolute truth”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.2

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How much of my time supports seeking the Absolute Truth rather than unnecessary enjoyment?

Practice

Set aside one unnecessary pleasure today and use that time to study this teaching about the Absolute Truth.

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.

5 lectures given on it · quoted in 27 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Show 3 more lectures on it
Quoted in 27 other lectures

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 todayMaintain Life to Seek the Absolute TruthOne of the 108 chosen lessons: a practice and a question from this verse

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 1.2.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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