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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.1.27

Who is speaking and story frame

तस्मिन्नु ह वा उपशमशीला: परमर्षय: सकलजीवनिकायावासस्य भगवतो वासुदेवस्य भीतानां शरणभूतस्य श्रीमच्चरणारविन्दाविरतस्मरणाविगलितपरमभक्तियोगानुभावेन परिभावितान्तर्हृदयाधिगते भगवति सर्वेषां भूतानामात्मभूते प्रत्यगात्मन्येवा\- त्मनस्तादात्म्यमविशेषेण समीयु: ॥ २७ ॥

tasminn u ha vā upaśama-śīlāḥ paramarṣayaḥ sakala-jīva-nikāyāvāsasya bhagavato vāsudevasya bhītānāṁ śaraṇa-bhūtasya śrīmac-caraṇāravindāvirata-smaraṇāvigalita-parama-bhakti-yogānu-bhāvena paribhāvitāntar-hṛdayādhigate bhagavati sarveṣāṁ bhūtānām ātma-bhūte pratyag-ātmany evātmanas tādātmyam aviśeṣeṇa samīyuḥ.

Translation

Thus situated in the renounced order from the beginning of their lives, all three of them completely controlled the activities of their senses and thus became great saints. They concentrated their minds always upon the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the resting place of the totality of living entities and who is therefore celebrated as Vāsudeva. Lord Vāsudeva is the only shelter of those who are actually afraid of material existence. By constantly thinking of His lotus feet, these three sons of Mahārāja Priyavrata became advanced in pure devotional service. By the prowess of their devotional service, they could directly perceive the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is situated in everyone’s heart as the Supersoul, and realize that there was qualitatively no difference between themselves and Him.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Devotion Reveals the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    An actual paramahaṁsa completely controls the senses and engages in the unalloyed service of the Lord. The three brothers’ senses could not disturb them because those senses were fully engaged in His service.

  2. 2

    They always concentrated on the lotus feet of Vāsudeva, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the shelter of those afraid of material existence and is present within the heart as the Supersoul.

  3. 3

    Through pure devotional service, one can fully realize the self and become free from the bodily concept of life. The brothers realized their qualitative oneness with the Lord, while their sole interest remained His loving service.

Key points from the purport
  • An actual paramahaṁsa is one who completely controls his senses and engages in the unalloyed service of the Lord.
  • After subduing their senses, the three brothers concentrated their minds upon the lotus feet of Vāsudeva, Lord Kṛṣṇa.
  • Both of these viṣṇu-tattvas are vāsudeva-tattvas, and therefore the great sages Kavi, Mahāvīra and Savana concentrated always upon the lotus feet of Lord Vāsudeva, Kṛṣṇa.

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 5.1.27 quotesBG 7.19

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (7.19), vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti.

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:

When the senses are controlled, one may live either at home or in the forest; there is no difference. When Mahārāja Priyavrata, following the instruction of Lord Brahmā, accepted the royal throne, his father, Manu, left home for the forest.
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. tasminin that paramahaṁsa-āśrama
  2. ucertainly
  3. haso celebrated
  4. vāindeed
  5. upaśama-śīlāḥin the renounced order of life
  6. parama-ṛṣayaḥthe great sages
  7. sakalaall
  8. jīvaof living entities
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “renounced”, “free from”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 engage my senses in serving Kṛṣṇa rather than merely trying to restrain them?

Practice

Spend two quiet minutes remembering the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, with the wish to serve Him.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Devotion Reveals the Supreme 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 5.1.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.