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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
5.1.135.1.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.1.14

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 5.1.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यद्वाचि तन्त्यां गुणकर्मदामभि:

सुदुस्तरैर्वत्स वयं सुयोजिता: ।

सर्वे वहामो बलिमीश्वराय

प्रोता नसीव द्विपदे चतुष्पद: ॥ १४ ॥

yad-vāci tantyāṁ guṇa-karma-dāmabhiḥ

sudustarair vatsa vayaṁ suyojitāḥ

sarve vahāmo balim īśvarāya

protā nasīva dvi-pade catuṣ-padaḥ

Translation

My dear boy, all of us are bound by the Vedic injunctions to the divisions of varṇāśrama according to our qualities and work. These divisions are difficult to avoid because they are scientifically arranged. We must therefore carry out our duties of varṇāśrama-dharma, like bulls obliged to move according to the direction of a driver pulling on ropes knotted to their noses.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Make Your Duties Worship of the Lord

  1. 1

    The divisions of varṇāśrama are determined by qualities and work, not simply by birth. A person’s present qualities and activities must guide this understanding.

  2. 2

    Properly performed duties in varṇa and āśrama are meant to worship Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Material advancement alone misses this goal of life.

  3. 3

    Vedic instructions give direction for a successful life, whatever one’s social position. Following these instructions can elevate everyone to the transcendental platform.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus they say that the four divisions of the social order — brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya and śūdra — should be arranged according to the guṇa and karma of this life.
  • Therefore if we accept the divisions of varṇa and āśrama according to the Vedic instructions, our lives will be successful.
  • If human society is divided scientifically according to varṇa and āśrama, and if the Vedic directions are followed, one’s life, regardless of his position, will be successful.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 5.1.14 quotesBG 16.23

This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (16.23): If we do not live according to the injunctions of the śāstras, the Vedas, we shall never achieve success in life, to say nothing of happiness or elevation to higher statuses of living.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

A civilized man, therefore, works according to the institution of varṇa and āśrama. Even in materialistic life, however, no one is free to act.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yatof whom
  2. vāciin the form of Vedic instruction
  3. tantyāmto a long rope
  4. guṇaof quality
  5. karmaand work
  6. dāmabhiḥby the ropes
  7. su-dustaraiḥvery difficult to avoid
  8. vatsamy dear boy
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 5.1

    In this verse: “duties”, “varṇāśrama”, “āśrama”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 5.1

    In this verse: “understanding”

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

How can I keep worship of Lord Viṣṇu as the purpose of my duties?

Practice

Choose one duty today and perform it carefully with the intention of pleasing Lord Viṣṇu rather than gaining material recognition.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMake Your Duties Worship of the LordThis 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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