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

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Canto 5 · The Creative Impetus · 26 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 5 · Chapter 1: The Activities of Mahārāja Priyavrata
5.1.95.1.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.1.10

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.1.7inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

भगवानपि भारत तदुपनीतार्हण: सूक्तवाकेनातितरामुदितगुणगणावतारसुजय: प्रियव्रतमादि पुरुषस्तं सदयहासावलोक इति होवाच ॥ १० ॥

bhagavān api bhārata tad-upanītārhaṇaḥ sūkta-vākenātitarām udita-guṇa-gaṇāvatāra-sujayaḥ priyavratam ādi-puruṣas taṁ sadaya-hāsāvaloka iti hovāca.

Translation

My dear King Parīkṣit, because Lord Brahmā had finally descended from Satyaloka to Bhūloka, Nārada Muni, Prince Priyavrata and Svāyambhuva Manu came forward to offer him objects of worship and to praise him in highly qualified language, according to Vedic etiquette. At that time, Lord Brahmā, the original person of this universe, felt compassion for Priyavrata and, looking upon him with a smiling face, spoke to him as follows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Household Life Need Not Interrupt Devotion

  1. 1

    Nārada’s instructions on spiritual life, knowledge, renunciation and bhakti had deeply impressed Priyavrata. Brahmā’s personal visit showed how serious the request to rule was.

  2. 2

    Brahmā’s compassionate smile indicated that Priyavrata could accept household life without losing touch with devotional service. He praised Priyavrata’s renunciation and devotion so that his service would continue.

  3. 3

    By the blessings of a Vaiṣṇava, everything is possible. The purport calls perfection attained through the blessings of a spiritual master or superior kṛpā-siddhi.

Key points from the purport
  • That Lord Brahmā descended from Satyaloka to see Priyavrata indicates that the matter was very serious.
  • Nārada Muni had come to advise Priyavrata about the value of spiritual life, knowledge, renunciation and bhakti, and Lord Brahmā knew that Nārada’s instructions were very impressive.
  • Therefore unless Lord Brahmā personally went to Gandhamādana Hill to request Priyavrata, Lord Brahmā knew that Prince Priyavrata would not accept his father’s order.

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

Responsibility → Renunciation. Leadership is set beside the renounced ideal.

Chapters 1–6 of Canto 5: Priyavrata and Ṛṣabhadeva. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: The Activities of Mahārāja Priyavrata

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Priyavrata had received transcendental knowledge from the instructions of Nārada, and therefore he did not want to enter a materialistic life of enjoyment in a kingdom. He accepted the kingdom, however, at the request of such superior demigods as Lord Brahmā and Lord Indra, the King of heaven.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhagavānLord Brahmā
  2. apimoreover
  3. bhārataO King Parīkṣit
  4. tatby them
  5. upanītabrought forward
  6. arhaṇaḥworshipable paraphernalia
  7. sūktaaccording to Vedic etiquette
  8. vākenaby language
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 5.1

    In this verse: “worship”, “devotional service”, “bhakti”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 5.1

    In this verse: “compassion”, “compassionate”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.1

    In this verse: “king”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I think ordinary responsibilities must separate me from devotional service?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes for devotional service today without neglecting a household responsibility.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHousehold Life Need Not Interrupt DevotionThis 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 5.1.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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