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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
1.5.221.5.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.5.23

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 1.5.8inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaNārada Muni → Vyāsadeva

अहं पुरातीतभवेऽभवं मुने

दास्यास्तु कस्याश्चन वेदवादिनाम् ।

निरूपितो बालक एव योगिनां

शुश्रूषणे प्रावृषि निर्विविक्षताम् ॥ २३ ॥

ahaṁ purātīta-bhave ’bhavaṁ mune

dāsyās tu kasyāścana veda-vādinām

nirūpito bālaka eva yogināṁ

śuśrūṣaṇe prāvṛṣi nirvivikṣatām

Translation

O Muni, in the last millennium I was born as the son of a certain maidservant engaged in the service of brāhmaṇas who were following the principles of Vedānta. When they were living together during the four months of the rainy season, I was engaged in their personal service.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve the Lord Through His Devotees

  1. 1

    Despite humble parentage and a lack of proper education, Śrī Nārada Muni became an immortal sage through service to the Lord. Such is the power of devotional service.

  2. 2

    Service to the Lord begins with service to His bona fide servants. One should accept as spiritual master a genuine servant constantly engaged in the Lord’s service.

  3. 3

    The spiritual master is the transparent medium through whom the Lord reveals Himself in proportion to service rendered. Under such guidance, our energy and everything around us can be used to glorify the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord says that the service of His servants is greater than His personal service.
  • One should therefore choose a bona fide servant of the Lord constantly engaged in His service, accept such a servant as the spiritual master and engage himself in his (the spiritual master’s) service.
  • The whole cosmic creation becomes at once identical with the Lord as soon as service in relation with the Lord is rendered under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master.

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. ahamI
  2. purāformerly
  3. atīta-bhavein the previous millennium
  4. abhavambecame
  5. muneO muni
  6. dāsyāḥof the maidservant
  7. tubut
  8. kasyāścanacertain
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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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “principles”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.5

    In this verse: “glorify”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How could you direct more of your energy toward serving a genuine servant of the Lord?

Practice

Offer practical help with one small task supporting the service of a genuine devotee.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayServe the Lord Through His DevoteesThis 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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