1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter

Canto

Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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

1.5.19 1.5.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.5.20

Āśraya· The supreme shelter

Who is speaking and story frame

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

इदं हि विश्वं भगवानिवेतरो

यतो जगत्स्थाननिरोधसम्भवा: ।

तद्धि स्वयं वेद भवांस्तथापि ते

प्रादेशमात्रं भवत: प्रदर्शितम् ॥ २० ॥

idaṁ hi viśvaṁ bhagavān ivetaro

yato jagat-sthāna-nirodha-sambhavāḥ

tad dhi svayaṁ veda bhavāṁs tathāpi te

prādeśa-mātraṁ bhavataḥ pradarśitam

Translation

The Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead is Himself this cosmos, and still He is aloof from it. From Him only has this cosmic manifestation emanated, in Him it rests, and unto Him it enters after annihilation. Your good self knows all about this. I have given only a synopsis.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve the Supreme Source of Everything

1
The cosmos comes from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, rests in Him and returns to Him at annihilation. It is His energy, yet He remains distinct from it.
2
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa controls both His spiritual and material energies. Living beings are individual persons related to Him, but they never become equal or superior to Him.
3
Life detached from loving service to the Lord is compared to a hand detached from the body. Accepting His supremacy and rendering loving service to Him is the purpose of human life and the basis of peace.

Key points from the purport

Thus the living being is also identical with the Lord.
With the help of the material energies the living beings are also creating something, but none of their creations are equal or superior to the creations of the Lord.
In a diseased condition only, the foolish being claims to be one with the Lord and thus becomes misled by the illusory energy.

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 3.10.12

As stated previously by Nārada before Vyāsadeva, idaṁ hi viśvaṁ bhagavān ivetaraḥ: this manifested world is the selfsame Personality of Godhead, but it appears to be something else beyond or besides the Lord.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.24.59

Idaṁ hi viśvaṁ bhagavān ivetaraḥ. He whose heart is purified can see that the whole cosmic manifestation is but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but he whose heart is contaminated sees things differently.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.12.8

Therefore in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.20) it is said: idaṁ hi viśvaṁ bhagavān ivetaraḥ.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.16.3

Elsewhere in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.20) Nārada Muni has said, idaṁ hi viśvaṁ bhagavān ivetaraḥ: the entire universe is also the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although it appears different from Him.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.2.22

The question is very nicely answered by Śrīla Nārada Muni in the First Canto of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.20).

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.

idamthis
hiall
viśvamcosmos
bhagavānthe Supreme Lord
ivaalmost the same
itaraḥdifferent from
yataḥfrom whom
jagatthe worlds

Key ideas in this verse

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

Āśraya · The summum bonum
Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.5
In this verse: “material”
Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment
Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 1.5
In this verse: “detached”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can recognizing Kṛṣṇa as the source of my abilities change the way I use them?

Practice

Choose one ability you have and use it today for a small act of loving service to the Lord.

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.

Quoted in 10 lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 10 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.

Live this todayServe the Supreme Source of EverythingThis 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 1.5.20? 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