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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
1.5.11.5.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.5.2

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Addressing Vyāsadeva, the son of Parāśara, Nāradasince 1.5.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaNārada Muni → Vyāsadeva

नारद उवाच

पाराशर्य महाभाग भवत: कच्चिदात्मना ।

परितुष्यति शारीर आत्मा मानस एव वा ॥ २ ॥

nārada uvāca

pārāśarya mahā-bhāga

bhavataḥ kaccid ātmanā

parituṣyati śārīra

ātmā mānasa eva vā

Translation

Addressing Vyāsadeva, the son of Parāśara, Nārada inquired: Are you satisfied by identifying with the body or the mind as objects of self-realization?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Self Is Beyond Body and Mind

  1. 1

    Nārada asked whether identifying with the body or mind had satisfied Vyāsadeva. His question hinted at the cause of Vyāsadeva’s despondency.

  2. 2

    Despite his great parentage, Vyāsadeva should not have identified the self with the body or mind.

  3. 3

    One cannot be cheerful by nature without being factually situated in self-realization. This realization is transcendental to the material body and mind.

Key points from the purport
  • Being a great son of a great father, he should not have identified the self with the body or the mind.
  • Ordinary men with a poor fund of knowledge can identify the body as self or the mind as self, but Vyāsadeva should not have done so.
  • One cannot be cheerful by nature unless one is factually seated in self-realization, which is transcendental to the material body and mind.

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. nāradaḥNārada
  2. uvācasaid
  3. pārāśaryaO son of Parāśara
  4. mahā-bhāgathe greatly fortunate
  5. bhavataḥyour
  6. kaccitif it is
  7. ātmanāby the self-realization of
  8. parituṣyatidoes it satisfy
3

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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.5

    In this verse: “inquired”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When do I most readily identify myself with my body or mind?

Practice

Pause once today and reflect: “Self-realization is beyond my material body and mind.”

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.

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

Show 1 more lecture on it
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 todayThe Self Is Beyond Body and MindThis 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 1.5.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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