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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
5.1.35.1.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.1.4

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Kingsince 5.1.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

संशयोऽयं महान् ब्रह्मन् दारागारसुतादिषु ।

सक्तस्य यत्सिद्धिरभूत्कृष्णे च मतिरच्युता ॥ ४ ॥

saṁśayo ’yaṁ mahān brahman

dārāgāra-sutādiṣu

saktasya yat siddhir abhūt

kṛṣṇe ca matir acyutā

Translation

The King continued: O great brāhmaṇa, this is my great doubt. How was it possible for a person like King Priyavrata, who was so attached to wife, children and home, to achieve the topmost infallible perfection in Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Material Attachment Obstructs Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

  1. 1

    King Parīkṣit wondered how Priyavrata could be attached to wife, children and home yet attain infallible perfection in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  2. 2

    A gṛhavrata is one who has taken a vow to execute family duties. The purport explains that most gṛhavratas are guided by sense gratification, which prevents them from becoming Kṛṣṇa conscious.

  3. 3

    Uncontrolled senses lead one toward the darkest regions of material existence. Parīkṣit therefore asked Śukadeva Gosvāmī to resolve his doubt about Priyavrata.

Key points from the purport
  • King Parīkṣit wondered how a person so attached to wife, children and home could become so perfectly Kṛṣṇa conscious.
  • How can they possibly become perfect in Kṛṣṇa consciousness?
  • Mahārāja Parīkṣit asked Śukadeva Gosvāmī to resolve this great doubt.

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:

King Priyavrata was detached from worldly opulence, and then he became attached to his kingdom, but finally he again became detached from material enjoyment and thus achieved liberation. When King Parīkṣit heard about this, he was struck with wonder, but he was somewhat bewildered as to how a devotee with no attachment for material enjoyment could later become attached to it.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saṁśayaḥdoubt
  2. ayamthis
  3. mahāngreat
  4. brahmanO brāhmaṇa
  5. dārato the wife
  6. āgārahome
  7. sutachildren
  8. ādiṣuand so on
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: “attached”, “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.1

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 5.1

    In this verse: “children”

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

Where might sense gratification be taking priority over Kṛṣṇa consciousness in my life?

Practice

Identify one sense-driven habit that distracts you from Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and refrain from it once today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMaterial Attachment Obstructs Kṛṣṇa ConsciousnessThis 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 5.1.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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