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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.
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Canto 5 · Chapter 10: The Discussion Between Jaḍa Bharata and Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa
5.10.125.10.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.10.13

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The great brāhmaṇa Jaḍa Bharatasince 5.10.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitJaḍa Bharata → King Rahūgaṇa

उन्मत्तमत्तजडवत्स्वसंस्थां

गतस्य मे वीर चिकित्सितेन ।

अर्थ: कियान् भवता शिक्षितेन

स्तब्धप्रमत्तस्य च पिष्टपेष: ॥ १३ ॥

unmatta-matta-jaḍavat sva-saṁsthāṁ

gatasya me vīra cikitsitena

arthaḥ kiyān bhavatā śikṣitena

stabdha-pramattasya ca piṣṭapeṣaḥ

Translation

My dear King, you have said, “You rascal, you dull, crazy fellow! I am going to chastise you, and then you will come to your senses.” In this regard, let me say that although I live like a dull, deaf and dumb man, I am actually a self-realized person. What will you gain by punishing me? If your calculation is true and I am a madman, then your punishment will be like beating a dead horse. There will be no effect. When a madman is punished, he is not cured of his madness.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Punishment Alone Does Not Change False Hopes

  1. 1

    Jaḍa Bharata explains that although he appears dull, deaf and dumb, he is self-realized. The King’s threat of punishment cannot improve his spiritual position.

  2. 2

    People act under false impressions acquired in material life. A thief may know that stealing brings punishment yet remain convinced that it will make him happy.

  3. 3

    Despite repeated punishment, the thief may continue stealing. Punishment is useless when the same false hope keeps driving the habit.

Key points from the purport
  • Everyone in this material world is working like a madman under certain impressions falsely acquired in the material condition.
  • For example, a thief who knows that stealing is not good and who knows that it is followed with punishment by a king or by God, who has seen that thieves are arrested and punished by the police, nonetheless steals again and again.
  • Despite repeated punishment, the thief cannot give up his stealing habit; therefore the punishment is useless.

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

Misjudgment → Humility and insight. Spiritual insight hides behind social appearances.

Chapters 10–14 of Canto 5: Jaḍa Bharata instructs Rahūgaṇa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 10: The Discussion Between Jaḍa Bharata and Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When he continued as before, the King threatened him with punishment, and being threatened by the King, Jaḍa Bharata began to talk. He protested against the filthy language used by the King when the King chastised him, and the King, hearing the instructions of Jaḍa Bharata, was awakened to his real knowledge.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.10
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. unmattamadness
  2. mattaa drunkard
  3. jaḍa-vatlike a dunce
  4. sva-saṁsthāmsituation in my original constitutional position
  5. gatasyaof one who has obtained
  6. meof me
  7. vīraO King
  8. cikitsitenaby your chastisement
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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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.10

    In this verse: “king”, “king’s”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.10

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What harmful habit do I repeat because I still expect happiness from it?

Practice

Write down one repeated harmful habit and the promise of happiness that keeps it going.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPunishment Alone Does Not Change False HopesThis 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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