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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.4.5

Who is speaking and story frame

द‍ृष्ट्वानुयान्तमृषिमात्मजमप्यनग्नं

देव्यो ह्रिया परिदधुर्न सुतस्य चित्रम् ।

तद्वीक्ष्य पृच्छति मुनौ जगदुस्तवास्ति

स्त्रीपुम्भिदा न तु सुतस्य विविक्तद‍ृष्टे: ॥ ५ ॥

dṛṣṭvānuyāntam ṛṣim ātmajam apy anagnaṁ

devyo hriyā paridadhur na sutasya citram

tad vīkṣya pṛcchati munau jagadus tavāsti

strī-pum-bhidā na tu sutasya vivikta-dṛṣṭeḥ

Translation

While Śrī Vyāsadeva was following his son, beautiful young damsels who were bathing naked covered their bodies with cloth, although Śrī Vyāsadeva himself was not naked. But they had not done so when his son had passed. The sage inquired about this, and the young ladies replied that his son was purified and when looking at them made no distinction between male and female. But the sage made such distinctions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Learn to See Beyond the Body

  1. 1

    Śukadeva Gosvāmī saw living entities in different bodily dress, rather than identifying them as male or female. His spiritual vision was equal and free from sexual attraction.

  2. 2

    One should learn the distinction between body and soul without attachment to male and female bodies. The living entity itself is neither male nor female.

  3. 3

    One should not imitate Śukadeva Gosvāmī's renunciation while still attached to bodily distinctions. Vyāsadeva was also transcendental, yet he observed the social customs of household life.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus he did not see a male or female; he saw all living entities in different dress.
  • A householder has to distinguish between a male and female; otherwise he cannot be a householder.
  • One should therefore attempt to know the distinction between body and soul without any attachment for male and female.

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· 1

The purport of SB 1.4.5 quotesBG 5.18

In the Bhagavad-gītā (5.18) it is said that a learned sage looks equally on a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a caṇḍāla (dog-eater), a dog or a cow due to his spiritual vision.

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

Dissatisfaction → Inspired clarity. Even great accomplishment leaves Vyāsa without contentment until devotion is centered.

Chapters 4–6 of Canto 1: Vyāsa is dissatisfied; Nārada directs him to the Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 4: The Appearance of Śrī Nārada

The sages inquire about Parīkṣit, while Sūta describes Vyāsadeva’s division of the Vedas and dissatisfaction.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.4
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dṛṣṭvāby seeing
  2. anuyāntamfollowing
  3. ṛṣimthe sage
  4. ātmajamhis son
  5. apiin spite of
  6. anagnamnot naked
  7. devyaḥbeautiful damsels
  8. hriyāout of shyness
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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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 1.4

    In this verse: “purified”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.4

    In this verse: “inquired”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.4

    In this verse: “attachment”, “household”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I respect someone's spiritual identity without pretending to have fully realized equal vision?

Practice

In one interaction today, consciously remember that the person before you is a living soul, not merely a body.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLearn to See Beyond the BodyThis 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 1.4.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.