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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 11: Jaḍa Bharata Instructs King Rahūgaṇa
5.11.75.11.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.11.8

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

गुणानुरक्तं व्यसनाय जन्तो:

क्षेमाय नैर्गुण्यमथो मन: स्यात् ।

यथा प्रदीपो घृतवर्तिमश्नन्

शिखा: सधूमा भजति ह्यन्यदा स्वम् ।

पदं तथा गुणकर्मानुबद्धं

वृत्तीर्मन: श्रयतेऽन्यत्र तत्त्वम् ॥ ८ ॥

guṇānuraktaṁ vyasanāya jantoḥ

kṣemāya nairguṇyam atho manaḥ syāt

yathā pradīpo ghṛta-vartim aśnan

śikhāḥ sadhūmā bhajati hy anyadā svam

padaṁ tathā guṇa-karmānubaddhaṁ

vṛttīr manaḥ śrayate ’nyatra tattvam

Translation

When the living entity’s mind becomes absorbed in the sense gratification of the material world, it brings about his conditioned life and suffering within the material situation. However, when the mind becomes unattached to material enjoyment, it becomes the cause of liberation. When the flame in a lamp burns the wick improperly, the lamp is blackened, but when the lamp is filled with ghee and is burning properly, there is bright illumination. Similarly, when the mind is absorbed in material sense gratification, it causes suffering, and when detached from material sense gratification it brings about the original brightness of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Train the Mind for Liberation

  1. 1

    A mind absorbed in material sense gratification causes bondage and suffering. Detachment from such enjoyment restores the original brightness of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, like a properly burning lamp.

  2. 2

    The mind should be cleansed of material attachment and fully engaged in the Lord’s service. Steady devotional service carries one beyond the modes of material nature.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa conscious activities make the mind a cause of liberation and return home, back to Godhead. Continued absorption in sense gratification leads to different bodies and the consequences of material actions.

Key points from the purport
  • It is therefore concluded that the mind is the cause of material existence and liberation also.
  • Everyone is suffering in this material world because of the mind; it is therefore proper to train the mind or to cleanse the mind from material attachment and engage it fully in the Lord’s service.
  • However, if we keep the mind engaged in material activities for sense gratification, it will cause continuous bondage and will make us remain in this material world in different bodies, suffering the consequences of our different actions.

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 5.11.8 quotesBG 14.26

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (14.26): “One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.”

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:

If one’s mind is absorbed in these activities, he certainly remains conditioned within the material world. According to different opinions, there are eleven or twelve mental activities, which can be transformed into hundreds and thousands.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. guṇa-anuraktambeing attached to the material modes of nature
  2. vyasanāyafor the conditioning in material existence
  3. jantoḥof the living entity
  4. kṣemāyafor the ultimate welfare
  5. nairguṇyambeing unaffected by the material modes of nature
  6. athothus
  7. manaḥthe mind
  8. syātbecomes
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “material”, “attachment”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 5.11

    In this verse: “detached”, “detachment”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 5.11

    In this verse: “suffering”

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

What small change would help my mind become more absorbed in Kṛṣṇa’s service?

Practice

Replace five minutes of an activity done only for sense enjoyment with five minutes of studying these teachings about Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTrain the Mind for LiberationThis 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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