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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 5.10.15

Who is speaking and story frame

स चापि पाण्डवेय सिन्धुसौवीरपतिस्तत्त्वजिज्ञासायां सम्यक्‌श्रद्धयाधिकृताधिकारस्तद्‌धृदयग्रन्थिमोचनं द्विजवच आश्रुत्य बहुयोगग्रन्थसम्मतं त्वरयावरुह्य शिरसा पादमूलमुपसृत: क्षमापयन् विगतनृपदेवस्मय उवाच ॥ १५ ॥

sa cāpi pāṇḍaveya sindhu-sauvīra-patis tattva-jijñāsāyāṁ samyak-śraddhayādhikṛtādhikāras tad dhṛdaya-granthi-mocanaṁ dvija-vaca āśrutya bahu-yoga-grantha-sammataṁ tvarayāvaruhya śirasā pāda-mūlam upasṛtaḥ kṣamāpayan vigata-nṛpa-deva-smaya uvāca.

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: O best of the Pāṇḍu dynasty [Mahārāja Parīkṣit], the King of the Sindhu and Sauvīra states [Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa] had great faith in discussions of the Absolute Truth. Being thus qualified, he heard from Jaḍa Bharata that philosophical presentation which is approved by all scriptures on the mystic yoga process and which slackens the knot in the heart. His material conception of himself as a king was thus destroyed. He immediately descended from his palanquin and fell flat on the ground with his head at the lotus feet of Jaḍa Bharata in such a way that he might be excused for his insulting words against the great brāhmaṇa. He then prayed as follows.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear Humbly and Value Human Life

  1. 1

    Spiritual knowledge was received through disciplic succession by saintly kings. They understood life’s purpose and guided citizens toward freedom from repeated birth and death.

  2. 2

    Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa had faith in inquiry into the Absolute Truth. Hearing Jaḍa Bharata’s teaching destroyed his material conception of himself as king.

  3. 3

    Recognizing the value of the teaching, the King regretted his insulting words. He bowed at Jaḍa Bharata’s feet to seek forgiveness and hear further.

Key points from the purport
  • Through the disciplic succession the royal order was on the same platform as great saintly persons (rāja-ṛṣis).
  • When the saintly person Viśvāmitra came to the court of Mahārāja Daśaratha, the King, in order to receive the saintly person, asked him, aihiṣṭaṁ yat tat punar janma jayāya.
  • Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa also knew the purpose of life; therefore when Jaḍa Bharata put the philosophy of life before him, he immediately appreciated it.

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 5.10.15 quotesBG 4.2

In Bhagavad-gītā (4.2) Lord Kṛṣṇa says: “This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way.

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

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:

In this chapter Bharata Mahārāja, now Jaḍa Bharata, was successfully accepted by King Rahūgaṇa, ruler of the states known as Sindhu and Sauvīra. The King forced Jaḍa Bharata to carry his palanquin and chastised him because he did not carry it properly.
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. saḥhe (Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa)
  2. caalso
  3. apiindeed
  4. pāṇḍaveyaO best of the Pāṇḍu dynasty (Mahārāja Parīkṣit)
  5. sindhu-sauvīra-patiḥthe King of the states known as Sindhu and Sauvīra
  6. tattva-jijñāsāyāmin the matter of inquiring about the Absolute Truth
  7. samyak-śraddhayāby faith consisting of complete control of the senses and the mind
  8. adhikṛta-adhikāraḥwho attained the proper qualification
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 5.10

    In this verse: “philosophical”, “absolute truth”, “knowledge”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.10

    In this verse: “king”, “kings”, “citizens”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 5.10

    In this verse: “heard”, “hearing”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I willing to set aside pride when spiritual instruction corrects me?

Practice

Reread one teaching here that challenges your pride, and write one sincere question about it.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Live this todayHear Humbly and Value Human LifeThis 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 5.10.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.