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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 11: Jaḍa Bharata Instructs King Rahūgaṇa
5.11.15.11.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.11.2

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The brāhmaṇa Jaḍa Bharatasince 5.11.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitJaḍa Bharata → King Rahūgaṇa

तथैव राजन्नुरुगार्हमेध-वितानविद्योरुविजृम्भितेषु । न वेदवादेषु हि तत्त्ववाद:प्रायेण शुद्धो नु चकास्ति साधु: ॥ २ ॥

tathaiva rājann uru-gārhamedha-

vitāna-vidyoru-vijṛmbhiteṣu

na veda-vādeṣu hi tattva-vādaḥ

prāyeṇa śuddho nu cakāsti sādhuḥ

Translation

My dear King, talks of the relationship between the master and the servant, the king and the subject and so forth are simply talks about material activities. People interested in material activities which are expounded in the Vedas are intent on performing material sacrifices and placing faith in their material activities. For such people, spiritual advancement is definitely not manifest.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Vedas Lead to Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Attachment to Vedic sacrifices for material rewards does not bring spiritual perfection. Heavenly life and worldly advantages end when the stock of pious activity is exhausted.

  2. 2

    The objective of the Vedas is to understand Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Following their injunctions without understanding this purpose leaves one materially contaminated.

  3. 3

    Even understanding the Absolute Truth is incomplete without worship of Bhagavān. Through bhakti-yoga, devotional service, one attains the perfection of life.

Key points from the purport
  • Some of the followers of the Vedas are attached to karma-kāṇḍa, the fruitive activities of the Vedas, in order to be promoted to a higher standard of life.
  • According to the Vedic injunctions, the performance of pious activity is not really the objective of the Vedas.
  • The conclusion is that unintelligent men with a poor fund of knowledge cannot understand Bhagavān, Brahman or Paramātmā, but after studying the Vedas and attaining the understanding of the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one is supposed to be on the platform of perfect knowledge.

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· 2

The purport of SB 5.11.2 quotesBG 2.42

Being desirous of sense gratification and opulent life, they say there is nothing more than this.”

The purport of SB 5.11.2 quotesBG 9.21

Kṣīṇe puṇye martya-lokaṁ viśanti: when the stock of pious activity is finished, one again has to come to this martya-loka.

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 11: Jaḍa Bharata Instructs King Rahūgaṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Actually a person who is on the transcendental platform does not care for social behavior that sacrifices spiritual advancement. Social behavior comes within the jurisdiction of karma-kāṇḍa, material benefit.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tathātherefore
  2. evaindeed
  3. rājanO King
  4. uru-gārha-medharituals related to material household life
  5. vitāna-vidyāin knowledge that expands
  6. uruvery greatly
  7. vijṛmbhiteṣuamong those interested
  8. nanot
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.11

    In this verse: “material”, “attachment”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 5.11

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “bhakti-yoga”, “worship”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 5.11

    In this verse: “absolute truth”, “understand”

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

Do I approach spiritual practice mainly for material rewards, or to understand and serve Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Before your spiritual practice today, pause and set the intention to serve Kṛṣṇa rather than seek a material reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Vedas Lead to Devotional ServiceThis 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 5.11.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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