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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

1.5.16 1.5.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.5.17

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Nārada Munisince 1.5.8inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaNārada Muni → Vyāsadeva

त्यक्त्वा स्वधर्मं चरणाम्बुजं हरे-

र्भजन्नपक्‍वोऽथ पतेत्ततो यदि ।

यत्र क्‍व वाभद्रमभूदमुष्य किं

को वार्थ आप्तोऽभजतां स्वधर्मत: ॥ १७ ॥

tyaktvā sva-dharmaṁ caraṇāmbujaṁ harer

bhajann apakvo ’tha patet tato yadi

yatra kva vābhadram abhūd amuṣya kiṁ

ko vārtha āpto ’bhajatāṁ sva-dharmataḥ

Translation

One who has forsaken his material occupations to engage in the devotional service of the Lord may sometimes fall down while in an immature stage, yet there is no danger of his being unsuccessful. On the other hand, a nondevotee, though fully engaged in occupational duties, does not gain anything.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Is Never Lost

1
The scriptures allow one to relinquish material duties and surrender to the service of the Lord. Merely fulfilling occupational duties without devotion brings no lasting spiritual gain.
2
An immature devotee may fall from the path through undesirable association. Still, the purport stresses surrender to the Lord’s lotus feet, even when there is a chance of falling.
3
Even a small quantity of devotional service can save one from the most dangerous position. A fall does not erase the lasting value of service to the Lord.

Key points from the purport

So if one does so and becomes successful in the discharge of his devotional service unto the Lord, it is well and good.
But it so happens sometimes that one surrenders himself unto the service of the Lord by some temporary sentiment, and in the long run, due to so many other reasons, he falls down from the path of service by undesirable association.
But in spite of all this, the stress is given here to surrendering unto the lotus feet of the Lord, even if there is a chance of falling down, because even though one falls down from the prescribed duties of devotional service, he will never forget the lotus feet of the Lord.

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· 5

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.22.37

ko vārtha āpto ’bhajatāṁ sva-dharmataḥ. If a person, out of sentiment or for some other reason, takes to the shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord and in due course of time does not succeed in coming to the ultimate goal of life or falls down due to lack of experience, there is no loss.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.26.13

The fall of the neophyte devotee from the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness down to material life is described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.17) by Nārada Muni: This indicates that although a neophyte devotee may fall down from the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness due to his immaturity, his service to Kṛṣṇa never goes in vain.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.1.36

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.17) it is said: “One who has forsaken his material occupations to engage in the devotional service of the Lord may sometimes fall down while in an immature stage, yet there is no danger of his being unsuccessful.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.14.43

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.17): Somehow or other, if one is attracted to Kṛṣṇa, whatever he does in devotional service is a permanent asset.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 6.17.38

ko vārtha āpto ’bhajatāṁ sva-dharmataḥ. Once one is advanced in devotional service, his spiritual assets are never lost under any circumstances.

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tyaktvāhaving forsaken
sva-dharmamone’s own occupational engagement
caraṇa-ambujamthe lotus feet
hareḥof Hari (the Lord)
bhajanin the course of devotional service
apakvaḥimmature
athafor the matter of
patetfalls down

Key ideas in this verse

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

Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord
How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.5
In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”
Abhaya · Fearlessness
Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 1.5
In this verse: “danger”, “dangerous”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.5
In this verse: “material”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does fear of failure keep me from making a sincere effort in devotional service?

Practice

Make one small, sincere offering of service to the Lord today, even if your practice feels imperfect.

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

2 lectures given on it · quoted in 33 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 33 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.

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 1.5's connections

Live this todayDevotional Service Is Never LostOne 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 1.5.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories