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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 5: Nārada’s Instructions on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam for Vyāsadeva
1.4.331.5.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.5.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.5.1inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

सूत उवाच

अथ तं सुखमासीन उपासीनं बृहच्छ्रवा: ।

देवर्षि: प्राह विप्रर्षिं वीणापाणि: स्मयन्निव ॥ १ ॥

sūta uvāca

atha taṁ sukham āsīna

upāsīnaṁ bṛhac-chravāḥ

devarṣiḥ prāha viprarṣiṁ

vīṇā-pāṇiḥ smayann iva

Translation

Sūta Gosvāmī said: Thus the sage amongst the gods [Nārada], comfortably seated and apparently smiling, addressed the ṛṣi amongst the brāhmaṇas [Vedavyāsa].

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recognizing What Is Missing

  1. 1

    Nārada was comfortably seated and apparently smiling as he addressed Vedavyāsa.

  2. 2

    Nārada knew the great sage well and understood the cause of his disappointment.

  3. 3

    Vyāsadeva had not sufficiently presented the science of devotional service. Nārada would gradually explain this deficiency.

Key points from the purport
  • Nārada was smiling because he well knew the great sage Vedavyāsa and the cause of his disappointment.
  • As he will explain gradually, Vyāsadeva’s disappointment was due to insufficiency in presenting the science of devotional service.
  • Nārada knew the defect, and it was confirmed by the position of Vyāsa.

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

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 5: Nārada’s Instructions on Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam for Vyāsadeva

Nārada urges Vyāsadeva to describe the Lord’s glories and recalls his own service to sages.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.5
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sūtaḥSūta
  2. uvācasaid
  3. athatherefore
  4. tamhim
  5. sukham āsīnaḥcomfortably seated
  6. upāsīnamunto one sitting nearby
  7. bṛhat-śravāḥgreatly respected
  8. devarṣiḥthe great ṛṣi among the gods
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.5

    In this verse: “devotional service”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I giving devotional service enough attention in my spiritual study?

Practice

Write one sentence about why devotional service deserves attention in your study today.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

2 lectures given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayRecognizing What Is MissingThis 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 1.5.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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