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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 10: The Discussion Between Jaḍa Bharata and Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa
5.10.185.10.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.10.19

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Rahūgaṇasince 5.10.16inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitJaḍa Bharata → King Rahūgaṇa

अहं च योगेश्वरमात्मतत्त्व-

विदां मुनीनां परमं गुरुं वै ।

प्रष्टुं प्रवृत्त: किमिहारणं तत्

साक्षाद्धरिं ज्ञानकलावतीर्णम् ॥ १९ ॥

ahaṁ ca yogeśvaram ātma-tattva-

vidāṁ munīnāṁ paramaṁ guruṁ vai

praṣṭuṁ pravṛttaḥ kim ihāraṇaṁ tat

sākṣād dhariṁ jñāna-kalāvatīrṇam

Translation

I consider your good self the most exalted master of mystic power. You know the spiritual science perfectly well. You are the most exalted of all learned sages, and you have descended for the benefit of all human society. You have come to give spiritual knowledge, and you are a direct representative of Kapiladeva, the incarnation of God and the plenary portion of knowledge. I am therefore asking you, O spiritual master, what is the most secure shelter in this world?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Approach a Qualified Spiritual Master

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa teaches that the highest yogī worships Him with great faith in transcendental loving service.

  2. 2

    Jaḍa Bharata fully represented the Supreme Personality of Godhead by imparting His knowledge. Although a living entity, he was honored as the Lord’s direct representative.

  3. 3

    Anyone interested in spiritual science must approach a guru like Jaḍa Bharata. Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa therefore asked him about the most secure shelter in this world.

Key points from the purport
  • Although Jaḍa Bharata was an ordinary living entity, he had inherited all the knowledge given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kapiladeva.
  • An exalted personality like Jaḍa Bharata is as good as the Supreme Personality of Godhead because he fully represents the Lord by giving knowledge to others.
  • Jaḍa Bharata is herein accepted as the direct representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead because he was imparting knowledge on behalf of the Supreme Lord.

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 5.10.19 quotesBG 6.47

“Of all yogīs, he who abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all.”

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:

When he came to his consciousness, he understood that he had offended a great, learned and saintly person. At that time he very humbly and respectfully prayed to Jaḍa Bharata.
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. ahamI
  2. caand
  3. yoga-īśvaramthe master of all mystic power
  4. ātma-tattva-vidāmof the learned scholars who are aware of the spiritual science
  5. munīnāmof such saintly persons
  6. paramamthe best
  7. gurumthe preceptor
  8. vaiindeed
3

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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 5.10

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 5.10

    In this verse: “worships”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I willing to seek spiritual knowledge from someone who faithfully represents the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Write down one sincere question about spiritual shelter that you would like to ask a qualified spiritual master.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

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

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 5.10's connections

Live this todayApproach a Qualified Spiritual MasterThis 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 5.10.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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