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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

5.1.20 5.1.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.1.21

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.1.20inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

भगवानपि मनुना यथावदुपकल्पितापचिति: प्रियव्रतनारदयोरविषममभिसमीक्षमाणयोरात्मसमवस्थानमवाङ्‍मनसं क्षयमव्यवहृतं प्रवर्तयन्नगमत् ॥ २१ ॥

bhagavān api manunā yathāvad upakalpitāpacitiḥ priyavrata-nāradayor aviṣamam abhisamīkṣamāṇayor ātmasam avasthānam avāṅ-manasaṁ kṣayam avyavahṛtaṁ pravartayann agamat.

Translation

Lord Brahmā was then worshiped by Manu, who respectfully satisfied him as well as he could. Priyavrata and Nārada also looked upon Brahmā with no tinges of resentment. Having engaged Priyavrata in accepting his father’s request, Lord Brahmā returned to his abode, Satyaloka, which is indescribable by the endeavor of mundane mind or words.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offer Respect Without Resentment

1
Manu respectfully worshiped Lord Brahmā and was satisfied that Priyavrata would accept responsibility for ruling the world.
2
Although Priyavrata’s plan to remain a brahmacārī changed, neither he nor Nārada resented Brahmā. As exalted personalities, they offered him heartfelt respect.
3
Brahmā returned to Satyaloka, an abode beyond our present words and imagination. The purport describes it as free from lamentation, old age, death and anxiety.

Key points from the purport

Manu was certainly very satisfied that Lord Brahmā had persuaded his son Priyavrata to take the responsibility for ruling the world.
Both Priyavrata and Nārada were exalted personalities who knew how to respect Lord Brahmā.
Lord Brahmā then returned to his celestial abode, known as Satyaloka, which is described here as being impeccable and being unapproachable by words.

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 5.1.21 quotesBG 8.17

His lifetime is described in Bhagavad-gītā (8.17).

The purport of SB 5.1.21 quotesSB 2.2.26

“In Satyaloka, which is situated many millions and billions of years away, there is no lamentation, nor is there old age, death, anxiety or the influence of enemies.”

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

Chapter 1: The Activities of Mahārāja Priyavrata

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When Mahārāja Priyavrata, following the instruction of Lord Brahmā, accepted the royal throne, his father, Manu, left home for the forest. Mahārāja Priyavrata then married Barhiṣmatī, the daughter of Viśvakarmā.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 5.1

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

bhagavānthe most powerful Lord Brahmā
apialso
manunāby Manu
yathāvatas deserved
upakalpita-apacitiḥbeing worshiped
priyavrata-nāradayoḥin the presence of Priyavrata and Nārada
aviṣamamwithout aversion
abhisamīkṣamāṇayoḥlooking on

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: “worshiped”
Vātsalya · Parental affection
Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 5.1
In this verse: “father’s”
Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment
Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 5.1
In this verse: “free from”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What can I learn from Priyavrata and Nārada’s respect when their plans were changed?

Practice

Reflect on one changed plan today and write a respectful response rather than a resentful one.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 2.2.26

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 5.1's connections

Live this todayOffer Respect Without ResentmentThis 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 5.1.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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