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

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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
1.5.141.5.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.5.15

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 1.5.8inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaNārada Muni → Vyāsadeva

जुगुप्सितं धर्मकृतेऽनुशासत:

स्वभावरक्तस्य महान् व्यतिक्रम: ।

यद्वाक्यतो धर्म इतीतर: स्थितो

न मन्यते तस्य निवारणं जन: ॥ १५ ॥

jugupsitaṁ dharma-kṛte ’nuśāsataḥ

svabhāva-raktasya mahān vyatikramaḥ

yad-vākyato dharma itītaraḥ sthito

na manyate tasya nivāraṇaṁ janaḥ

Translation

The people in general are naturally inclined to enjoy, and you have encouraged them in that way in the name of religion. This is verily condemned and is quite unreasonable. Because they are guided under your instructions, they will accept such activities in the name of religion and will hardly care for prohibitions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Choose Surrender Over Religious Sense Enjoyment

  1. 1

    Human life is an opportunity to escape material bondage and reestablish our lost relationship with God. Religious instructions should not encourage plans for sense enjoyment.

  2. 2

    People may cling to religious permissions for enjoyment while ignoring their intended restrictions. This misuse of religion becomes a barrier to spiritual advancement.

  3. 3

    The central teaching of Bhagavad-gītā is to surrender fully unto Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Nārada urges Vyāsadeva to proclaim directly that realizing our eternal relationship with the Lord and surrendering to Him is life’s prime necessity.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Vyāsadeva’s compilation of different Vedic literatures on the basis of regulated performances of fruitive activities as depicted in the Mahābhārata and other literature is condemned herewith by Śrīla Nārada.
  • Śrīla Vyāsadeva is the authority in Vedic explanations in the Mahābhārata, etc., and his encouragement in sense enjoyment in some form or other is a great barrier for spiritual advancement because the people in general will not agree to renounce material activities which hold them in material bondage.
  • At a certain stage of human civilization when such material activities in the name of religion (as sacrificing animals in the name of yajña) were too much rampant, the Lord incarnated Himself as Buddha and decried the authority of the Vedas in order to stop animal sacrifice in the name of religion.

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

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.27.11

Because they are guided under your instructions, they will accept such activities in the name of religion and will hardly care for prohibitions.”

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 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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. jugupsitamverily condemned
  2. dharma-kṛtefor the matter of religion
  3. anuśāsataḥinstruction
  4. svabhāva-raktasyanaturally inclined
  5. mahāngreat
  6. vyatikramaḥunreasonable
  7. yat-vākyataḥunder whose instruction
  8. dharmaḥreligion
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.5

    In this verse: “religion”, “religious”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.5

    In this verse: “material”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.5

    In this verse: “surrender”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking the Lord’s service, or using religion to support my desire for material enjoyment?

Practice

Set aside one small plan for sense enjoyment today and use that time to read Bhagavad-gītā with the intention of surrendering to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

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.

1 lecture given on it · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 other lecture

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 todayChoose Surrender Over Religious Sense EnjoymentThis 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.

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