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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.

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Canto 5 · Chapter 1: The Activities of Mahārāja Priyavrata

5.1.38 5.1.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.1.39

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:The Kingsince 5.1.37inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तस्य ह वा एते श्लोका:—

प्रियव्रतकृतं कर्म को नु कुर्याद्विनेश्वरम् । यो नेमिनिम्नैरकरोच्छायां घ्नन् सप्त वारिधीन् ॥ ३९ ॥

tasya ha vā ete ślokāḥ —

priyavrata-kṛtaṁ karma

ko nu kuryād vineśvaram

yo nemi-nimnair akaroc

chāyāṁ ghnan sapta vāridhīn

Translation

There are many famous verses regarding Mahārāja Priyavrata’s activities: “No one but the Supreme Personality of Godhead could do what Mahārāja Priyavrata has done. Mahārāja Priyavrata dissipated the darkness of night, and with the rims of his great chariot, he excavated seven oceans.”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Grace Honors His Devotee

1
Priyavrata’s extraordinary activities became the subject of many famous verses. He dissipated the darkness of night and excavated seven oceans with his chariot’s rims.
2
His activities were so wonderful that they were compared to those of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The purport presents him as a sincere servant and devotee of the Lord.
3
A pure devotee is sometimes called bhagavān by the Lord’s grace so that the devotee will be highly esteemed. This honor recognizes the devotee’s service to the Lord.

Key points from the purport

There are many excellent verses, famous all over the world, concerning the activities of Mahārāja Priyavrata.
He is so celebrated that his activities are compared to those of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Sometimes a sincere servant and devotee of the Lord is also called bhagavān.

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

Chapter 1: The Activities of Mahārāja Priyavrata

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The impressions from the rims of Mahārāja Priyavrata’s chariot wheels created seven oceans and seven islands. Of the ten sons of Priyavrata, three sons named Kavi, Mahāvīra and Savana accepted sannyāsa, the fourth order of life, and the remaining seven sons became the rulers of the seven islands.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tasyahis
ha vācertainly
eteall these
ślokāḥverses
priyavrataby King Priyavrata
kṛtamdone
karmaactivities
kaḥwho

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: “devotee”
Kṛpā · Divine mercy
Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 5.1
In this verse: “grace”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I appreciate a devotee’s greatness as an expression of the Lord’s grace?

Practice

Reread Priyavrata’s praise today and pause to appreciate his position as a servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Grace Honors His DevoteeThis 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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