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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
5.11.25.11.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.11.3

Mukti· Liberation
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

न तस्य तत्त्वग्रहणाय साक्षाद्वरीयसीरपि वाच: समासन् । स्वप्ने निरुक्त्या गृहमेधिसौख्यंन यस्य हेयानुमितं स्वयं स्यात् ॥ ३ ॥

na tasya tattva-grahaṇāya sākṣād

varīyasīr api vācaḥ samāsan

svapne niruktyā gṛhamedhi-saukhyaṁ

na yasya heyānumitaṁ svayaṁ syāt

Translation

A dream becomes automatically known to a person as false and immaterial, and similarly one eventually realizes that material happiness in this life or the next, on this planet or a higher planet, is insignificant. When one realizes this, the Vedas, although an excellent source, are insufficient to bring about direct knowledge of the truth.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Goes Beyond Material Happiness

  1. 1

    The purpose of Vedic study is to transcend the three modes of material nature. Even goodness and promotion to higher planets are not perfection.

  2. 2

    Like happiness experienced in a dream, material happiness cannot satisfy one seeking spiritual liberation. Attachment to it prevents understanding of the Absolute Truth.

  3. 3

    Through devotional service, a devotee reaches the platform beyond the material modes. The results of material work, speculation and the pursuit of yogic powers then become insignificant.

Key points from the purport
  • The purpose of Vedic study is to transcend the activities of the three modes of material nature.
  • One must come to the conclusion that even the sattva-guṇa platform is also not good.
  • If a person does not come to the conclusion that he has nothing to do with any kind of material happiness, he cannot come to the platform of understanding the Absolute Truth, or tattva jñāna.

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 5.11.3 quotesBG 2.45

In Bhagavad-gītā (2.45), Kṛṣṇa advised Arjuna to become transcendental to the material activities impelled by the three material modes of nature (traiguṇya-viṣayā vedā nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna).

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:

He tells the King: “You are not very experienced, yet you pose yourself as a learned person because you are very proud of your knowledge. Actually a person who is on the transcendental platform does not care for social behavior that sacrifices spiritual advancement.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. tasyaof him (a student studying the Vedas)
  3. tattva-grahaṇāyafor accepting the real purpose of Vedic knowledge
  4. sākṣātdirectly
  5. varīyasīḥvery exalted
  6. apialthough
  7. vācaḥwords of the Vedas
  8. samāsansufficiently became
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

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

  • 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”, “devotee”

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

Which material reward am I still treating as spiritual perfection?

Practice

Write down one material happiness you are pursuing, and reflect briefly on why devotional service is a higher goal.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Goes Beyond Material HappinessThis 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 5.11.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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