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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
1.5.361.5.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.5.37

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

ॐ नमो भगवते तुभ्यं वासुदेवाय धीमहि ।

प्रद्युम्नायानिरुद्धाय नम: सङ्कर्षणाय च ॥ ३७ ॥

oṁ namo bhagavate tubhyaṁ

vāsudevāya dhīmahi

pradyumnāyāniruddhāya

namaḥ saṅkarṣaṇāya ca

Translation

Let us all chant the glories of Vāsudeva along with His plenary expansions Pradyumna, Aniruddha and Saṅkarṣaṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Chanting Leads to Loving Service

  1. 1

    One should always chant and remember the glories of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His plenary expansions include Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha.

  2. 2

    Fruitive work and philosophical speculation are considered useless unless they ultimately aim at transcendental realization of the Supreme Lord.

  3. 3

    Progressive devotional activities develop intimacy between the Lord and the living entity. This devotion culminates in loving service of the Lord, called premā.

Key points from the purport
  • Vāsudeva and Saṅkarṣaṇa are on the middle left and right, Pradyumna is on the right of Saṅkarṣaṇa, and Aniruddha is on the left of Vāsudeva, and thus the four Deities are situated.
  • And this mantra is addressed to the four Deities, or the Lord with His plenary expansions.
  • The most confidential part of the instruction is that one should always chant and remember the glories of the Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, along with His different plenary portions expanded as Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha.

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. oṁthe sign of chanting the transcendental glory of the Lord
  2. namaḥoffering obeisances unto the Lord
  3. bhagavateunto the Personality of Godhead
  4. tubhyamunto You
  5. vāsudevāyaunto the Lord, the son of Vasudeva
  6. dhīmahilet us chant
  7. pradyumnāya, aniruddhāya and saṅkarṣaṇāyaall plenary expansions of Vāsudeva
  8. namaḥrespectful obeisances
  9. caand
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: “chant”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “philosophical”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make remembering the Lord and serving Him the aim of my activities?

Practice

Spend one minute chanting the names Vāsudeva, Pradyumna, Aniruddha and Saṅkarṣaṇa, remembering their relationship with Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChanting Leads to Loving ServiceThis 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 1.5.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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