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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
1.5.81.5.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.5.9

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

यथा धर्मादयश्चार्था मुनिवर्यानुकीर्तिता: ।

न तथा वासुदेवस्य महिमा ह्यनुवर्णित: ॥ ९ ॥

yathā dharmādayaś cārthā

muni-varyānukīrtitāḥ

na tathā vāsudevasya

mahimā hy anuvarṇitaḥ

Translation

Although, great sage, you have very broadly described the four principles beginning with religious performances, you have not described the glories of the Supreme Personality, Vāsudeva.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Give Devotional Service First Place

  1. 1

    Vyāsadeva described religious performance, economic development, sense gratification and salvation more extensively than the glories of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    These four aims are inferior to devotional service. No one can be substantially pleased without serving the Lord.

  3. 3

    Satisfaction in self-realization is the beginning of transcendental bliss, not the final goal. Nārada recommended eagerly and repeatedly describing devotional service so that realization would deepen and despondency would be cured.

Key points from the purport
  • These four items are by far inferior to engagement in the devotional service of the Lord.
  • From this it is clearly indicated that no one can be pleased substantially without being engaged in the devotional service of the Lord.
  • The conclusion is that in order to maintain the status quo of the brahma-bhūta stage, as also to increase the degree of transcendental realization, Nārada recommended to Vyāsadeva that he (Vyāsadeva) should now eagerly and repeatedly describe the path of devotional service.

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. yathāas much as
  2. dharma-ādayaḥall four principles of religious behavior
  3. caand
  4. arthāḥpurposes
  5. muni-varyaby yourself, the great sage
  6. anukīrtitāḥrepeatedly described
  7. nanot
  8. tathāin that way
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I treating devotional service as my goal or giving other aims greater importance?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to describe Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s glories rather than pursue a lesser priority.

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.

2 lectures given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayGive Devotional Service First PlaceThis 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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