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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
5.1.365.1.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.1.37

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Kingsince 5.1.37inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अहो असाध्वनुष्ठितं यदभिनिवेशितोऽहमिन्द्रियैरविद्यारचितविषमविषयान्धकूपे तदलमलममुष्या वनिताया विनोदमृगं मां धिग्धिगिति गर्हयाञ्चकार ॥ ३७ ॥

aho asādhv anuṣṭhitaṁ yad abhiniveśito ’ham indriyair avidyā-racita-viṣama-viṣayāndha-kūpe tad alam alam amuṣyā vanitāyā vinoda-mṛgaṁ māṁ dhig dhig iti garhayāṁ cakāra.

Translation

The King thus began criticizing himself: Alas, how condemned I have become because of my sense gratification! I have now fallen into material enjoyment, which is exactly like a covered well. I have had enough! I am not going to enjoy any more. Just see how I have become like a dancing monkey in the hands of my wife. Because of this, I am condemned.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Material Achievement Cannot End Spiritual Entanglement

  1. 1

    Although Priyavrata accomplished extraordinary material feats, he condemned his absorption in sense gratification. He compared material enjoyment to a covered well.

  2. 2

    Material advancement does not solve the problems of the living entity entangled in this world. Power, possessions and popularity can instead deepen that entanglement.

  3. 3

    Priyavrata’s sincere service to Nārada helped him revive his Kṛṣṇa consciousness despite impediments. By the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, renunciation becomes possible, and even a little devotional service protects one from great danger.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Priyavrata acted very wonderfully in the material field of activities, but because he was dealing in sense gratification — ruling his kingdom and dancing to the indications of his beautiful wife — he personally condemned himself.
  • If Mahārāja Priyavrata could condemn himself in spite of his wonderful activities, how condemned we are in our so-called advancement of material civilization.
  • From a spiritual point of view, a great kingdom, beautiful wife and wonderful material activities are all impediments to spiritual advancement.

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 5.1.37 quotesBG 2.40

“In devotional service there is no loss or diminution, and even a small service rendered in devotional life is sufficient to save one from the greatest danger.”

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:

Mahārāja Priyavrata also had a second wife, in whom he begot three sons named Uttama, Raivata and Tāmasa. All of them were elevated to the post of Manu.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ahoalas
  2. asādhunot good
  3. anuṣṭhitamexecuted
  4. yatbecause
  5. abhiniveśitaḥbeing completely absorbed
  6. ahamI
  7. indriyaiḥfor sense gratification
  8. avidyāby nescience
3

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.1

    In this verse: “king”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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 measuring progress mainly by material achievements or by my devotion to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside one optional activity meant only for sense enjoyment today, and use that time for devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMaterial Achievement Cannot End Spiritual EntanglementThis 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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