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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
5.1.145.1.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.1.15

Sthāna· The universe in order
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 5.1.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ईशाभिसृष्टं ह्यवरुन्ध्महेऽङ्ग

दु:खं सुखं वा गुणकर्मसङ्गात् ।

आस्थाय तत्तद्यदयुङ्क्त नाथ-

श्चक्षुष्मतान्धा इव नीयमाना: ॥ १५ ॥

īśābhisṛṣṭaṁ hy avarundhmahe ’ṅga

duḥkhaṁ sukhaṁ vā guṇa-karma-saṅgāt

āsthāya tat tad yad ayuṅkta nāthaś

cakṣuṣmatāndhā iva nīyamānāḥ

Translation

My dear Priyavrata, according to our association with different modes of material nature, the Supreme Personality of Godhead gives us our specific bodies and the happiness and distress we achieve. One must therefore remain situated as he is and be conducted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, exactly as a blind man is led by a person who has eyes with which to see.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow Kṛṣṇa in Every Circumstance

  1. 1

    The happiness and distress connected with our bodies cannot be avoided by material means. We should accept the Lord’s direction as a blind person accepts guidance from someone who can see.

  2. 2

    Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, asks everyone to surrender to Him and follow His instructions. This path is open to every division of society.

  3. 3

    We should be satisfied with our allotted position and engage in devotional service. Hearing and chanting the Lord’s glories and holy names lead toward the highest perfection.

Key points from the purport
  • The main purpose of life is to follow the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Similarly, being completely surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we should not aspire for happiness, or regret distress; we must be satisfied with the position allotted to us by the Lord.
  • In conclusion, therefore, we must be satisfied in whatever position we have been put into by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and we should try to engage ourselves in His 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.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of SB 5.1.15 quotesBG 18.66

Simply surrender unto Me and follow Me.”

The purport of SB 5.1.15 quotesBG 18.65

I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.”

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:

Everyone is compelled to accept a certain type of body offered by the Supreme Lord and thus be allotted different grades of happiness and distress. Therefore even if one artificially leaves home and goes to the forest, he again becomes attached to materialistic life.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. īśa-abhisṛṣṭamcreated or given by the Lord
  2. hicertainly
  3. avarundhmahewe have to accept
  4. aṅgamy dear Priyavrata
  5. duḥkhamdistress
  6. sukhamhappiness
  7. vāor
  8. guṇa-karmawith quality and work
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.1

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 5.1

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “distress”

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 continue devotional service without making it depend on my happiness or distress?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to chant the Lord’s holy names, whatever your present circumstances.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFollow Kṛṣṇa in Every CircumstanceThis 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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