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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 12: Conversation Between Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa and Jaḍa Bharata
5.12.15.12.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.12.2

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Rahūgaṇasince 5.12.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitJaḍa Bharata → King Rahūgaṇa

ज्वरामयार्तस्य यथागदं सत्

निदाघदग्धस्य यथा हिमाम्भ: ।

कुदेहमानाहिविदष्टद‍ृष्टे:

ब्रह्मन् वचस्तेऽमृतमौषधं मे ॥ २ ॥

jvarāmayārtasya yathāgadaṁ sat

nidāgha-dagdhasya yathā himāmbhaḥ

kudeha-mānāhi-vidaṣṭa-dṛṣṭeḥ

brahman vacas te ’mṛtam auṣadhaṁ me

Translation

O best of the brāhmaṇas, my body is filled with dirty things, and my vision has been bitten by the serpent of pride. Due to my material conceptions, I am diseased. Your nectarean instructions are the proper medicine for one suffering from such a fever, and they are cooling waters for one scorched by the heat.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Instructions Heal Bodily Pride

  1. 1

    The conditioned soul identifies with a body composed of bones, blood, urine, stool and other material ingredients. Even intelligent people mistake this combination for themselves.

  2. 2

    Rahūgaṇa recognizes that pride has distorted his vision and that material conceptions are like a disease.

  3. 3

    Jaḍa Bharata’s instructions are valuable medicine for this condition. Vedic instructions are like nectar and cooling water for someone suffering from scorching heat.

Key points from the purport
  • The conditioned soul has a body full of dirty things — bones, blood, urine, stool and so forth.
  • Nonetheless, the most intelligent men in this material world think they are these combinations of blood, bone, urine and stool.
  • The Vedic instructions are like nectar and cool water for one suffering from scorching heat.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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 12: Conversation Between Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa and Jaḍa Bharata

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa was bitten by the serpent of ignorance, but was cured by the nectarean words of Jaḍa Bharata. Later, because he was doubtful about the subjects discussed, he made further inquiries, one question after another.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. jvaraof a fever
  2. āmayaby the disease
  3. ārtasyaof a distressed person
  4. yathājust as
  5. agadamthe medicine
  6. satright
  7. nidāgha-dagdhasyaof one scorched by the heat of the sun
  8. yathājust as
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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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 5.12

    In this verse: “pride”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.12

    In this verse: “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 5.12

    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

Where does pride in my body or position distort my understanding?

Practice

Read the translation slowly today and identify one bodily conception you need help overcoming.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Instructions Heal Bodily PrideThis 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 5.12.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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