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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
1.5.251.5.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.5.26

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

तत्रान्वहं कृष्णकथा: प्रगायता-

मनुग्रहेणाश‍ृणवं मनोहरा: ।

ता: श्रद्धया मेऽनुपदं विश‍ृण्वत:

प्रियश्रवस्यङ्ग ममाभवद्रुचि: ॥ २६ ॥

tatrānvahaṁ kṛṣṇa-kathāḥ pragāyatām

anugraheṇāśṛṇavaṁ manoharāḥ

tāḥ śraddhayā me ’nupadaṁ viśṛṇvataḥ

priyaśravasy aṅga mamābhavad ruciḥ

Translation

O Vyāsadeva, in that association and by the mercy of those great Vedāntists, I could hear them describe the attractive activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa. And thus listening attentively, my taste for hearing of the Personality of Godhead increased at every step.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Attentive Hearing Deepens Attraction to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and His activities are transcendental and attractive. He displays His pastimes out of mercy so that those attracted to Him can return to Godhead.

  2. 2

    Hearing the Lord’s pastimes brings direct contact with Him. Such hearing clears accumulated sins and gradually frees the hearer from material association.

  3. 3

    Attentive hearing from pure devotees can lead to the highest perfection of life and association with the Lord. Hearing in the company of devotees is especially recommended in this age of quarrel.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Absolute Personality of Godhead, is attractive not only in His personal features, but also in His transcendental activities.
  • By hearing the narration of the pastimes of the Lord, one contacts directly the Personality of Godhead, and, as explained before, by hearing about the Personality of Godhead, from within, all accumulated sins of the mundane creature are cleared.
  • Thus being cleared of all sins, the hearer gradually becomes liberated from mundane association and becomes attracted to the features 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.

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. tatrathereupon
  2. anuevery day
  3. ahamI
  4. kṛṣṇa-kathāḥnarration of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s activities
  5. pragāyatāmdescribing
  6. anugraheṇaby causeless mercy
  7. aśṛṇavamgiving aural reception
  8. manaḥ-harāḥattractive
3

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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.5

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What could help you hear about Kṛṣṇa with greater attention and respect?

Practice

Set aside five uninterrupted minutes to hear a pure devotee’s narration of Kṛṣṇa’s activities.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAttentive Hearing Deepens Attraction to KṛṣṇaThis 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 1.5.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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