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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
1.2.41.2.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.2.5

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.2.2inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

मुनय: साधु पृष्टोऽहं भवद्भ‍िर्लोकमङ्गलम् ।

यत्कृत: कृष्णसम्प्रश्नो येनात्मा सुप्रसीदति ॥ ५ ॥

munayaḥ sādhu pṛṣṭo ’haṁ

bhavadbhir loka-maṅgalam

yat kṛtaḥ kṛṣṇa-sampraśno

yenātmā suprasīdati

Translation

O sages, I have been justly questioned by you. Your questions are worthy because they relate to Lord Kṛṣṇa and so are of relevance to the world’s welfare. Only questions of this sort are capable of completely satisfying the self.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Questions About Kṛṣṇa Satisfy the Soul

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth. Questions about Him are the sum and substance of all Vedic inquiries and benefit the whole world.

  2. 2

    The world is full of questions and answers, yet ordinary discussions do not completely satisfy the self. Satisfaction of the soul comes through questions and answers about Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa is our most intimate master, friend and object of love. Reading and hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam gives the highest satisfaction because its questions and answers concern Him.

Key points from the purport
  • The whole world is full of questions and answers.
  • Satisfaction of the soul can only be obtained by questions and answers on the subject of Kṛṣṇa.
  • Forgetting Kṛṣṇa, we have created so many objects of questions and answers, but none of them are able to give us complete satisfaction.

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· 2

The purport of SB 1.2.5 quotesBG 15.15

In Bhagavad-gītā (15.15) the Personality of Godhead says that in all the Vedas there is nothing but the urge for searching after Him, Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.2.11

Only questions of this sort are capable of completely satisfying the self.”

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. munayaḥO sages
  2. sādhuthis is relevant
  3. pṛṣṭaḥquestioned
  4. ahammyself
  5. bhavadbhiḥby all of you
  6. lokathe world
  7. maṅgalamwelfare
  8. yatbecause
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 1.2

    In this verse: “welfare”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.2

    In this verse: “hearing”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How much of my daily inquiry helps me remember and understand Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Write one sincere question about Kṛṣṇa prompted by today’s reading.

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.

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

Show 5 more lectures on it
Quoted in 5 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 todayQuestions About Kṛṣṇa Satisfy the SoulThis 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 1.2.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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