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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
5.1.215.1.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.1.22

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.1.20inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

मनुरपि परेणैवं प्रतिसन्धितमनोरथ: सुरर्षिवरानुमतेनात्मजमखिलधरामण्डलस्थितिगुप्तय आस्थाप्य स्वयमतिविषमविषयविषजलाशयाशाया उपरराम ॥ २२ ॥

manur api pareṇaivaṁ pratisandhita-manorathaḥ surarṣi-varānumatenātmajam akhila-dharā-maṇḍala-sthiti-guptaya āsthāpya svayam ati-viṣama-viṣaya-viṣa-jalāśayāśāyā upararāma.

Translation

Svāyambhuva Manu, with the assistance of Lord Brahmā, thus fulfilled his desires. With the permission of the great sage Nārada, he delivered to his son the governmental responsibility for maintaining and protecting all the planets of the universe. He thus achieved relief from the most dangerous, poisonous ocean of material desires.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Lead Without Attachment, Seek the Lord

  1. 1

    With Nārada’s permission, Manu entrusted Priyavrata with maintaining and protecting all the planetary systems. Manu felt relieved to give up this responsibility.

  2. 2

    Exemplary kings ruled for the welfare of their citizens, not for sense enjoyment. They performed their duties while remaining aloof from material attachment.

  3. 3

    Material affairs are compared to an ocean of poison, and chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra is given as the remedy. The aim is to become free from worldly attachment and fully engage in the Lord’s service.

Key points from the purport
  • Svāyambhuva Manu, however, appears to have been in charge of the entire universe, and he entrusted to his son, Mahārāja Priyavrata, the responsibility for maintaining and protecting all the planetary systems.
  • Manu wanted to seek shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord, and therefore when his son Priyavrata took charge of his worldly affairs, Manu was very relieved.
  • This is particularly mentioned because although Nārada wanted Priyavrata to become free from all material affairs, when Priyavrata took charge of the universe by the request of Lord Brahmā and Manu, Nārada was also very pleased.

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:

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.1
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. manuḥSvāyambhuva Manu
  2. apialso
  3. pareṇaby Lord Brahmā
  4. evamthus
  5. pratisandhitaexecuted
  6. manaḥ-rathaḥhis mental aspiration
  7. sura-ṛṣi-varaof the great sage Nārada
  8. anumatenaby the permission
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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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.1

    In this verse: “governmental”, “kings”, “citizens”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “attachment”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 5.1

    In this verse: “give up”, “free from”

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

Am I accepting responsibility to benefit others, or to gain enjoyment and importance?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLead Without Attachment, Seek 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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