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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 5.12.5-6

Who is speaking and story frame

ब्राह्मण उवाच

अयं जनो नाम चलन् पृथिव्यां

य: पार्थिव: पार्थिव कस्य हेतो: ।

तस्यापि चाङ्‌घ्र्योयोरधि गुल्फजङ्घा-

जानूरुमध्योरशिरोधरांसा: ॥ ५ ॥

अंसेऽधि दार्वी शिबिका च यस्यां

सौवीरराजेत्यपदेश आस्ते ।

यस्मिन् भवान् रूढनिजाभिमानो

राजास्मि सिन्धुष्विति दुर्मदान्ध: ॥ ६ ॥

brāhmaṇa uvāca

ayaṁ jano nāma calan pṛthivyāṁ

yaḥ pārthivaḥ pārthiva kasya hetoḥ

tasyāpi cāṅghryor adhi gulpha-jaṅghā-

jānūru-madhyora-śirodharāṁsāḥ

aṁse ’dhi dārvī śibikā ca yasyāṁ

sauvīra-rājety apadeśa āste

yasmin bhavān rūḍha-nijābhimāno

rājāsmi sindhuṣv iti durmadāndhaḥ

Translation

The self-realized brāhmaṇa Jaḍa Bharata said: Among the various material combinations and permutations, there are various forms and earthly transformations. For some reason, these move on the surface of the earth and are called palanquin carriers. Those material transformations which do not move are gross material objects like stones. In any case, the material body is made of earth and stone in the form of feet, ankles, calves, knees, thighs, torso, throat and head. Upon the shoulders is the wooden palanquin, and within the palanquin is the so-called King of Sauvīra. The body of the King is simply another transformation of earth, but within that body Your Lordship is situated and falsely thinking that you are the King of the state of Sauvīra.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

See Beyond Bodies and Royal Titles

  1. 1

    The bodies of the carriers and the king, along with the wooden palanquin, are transformations of earth. The living entity within the king’s body falsely identifies himself as the ruler of Sauvīra.

  2. 2

    The real living force is the living entity, an offspring of Lord Viṣṇu. Understanding Lord Viṣṇu as the original cause of everything is perfect knowledge.

  3. 3

    The soul and Supersoul are always apart from bodily pleasure and pain. A poor body does not make either the soul or Supersoul poor.

Key points from the purport
  • After analyzing the material bodies of the palanquin carrier and the palanquin passenger, Jaḍa Bharata concludes that the real living force is the living entity.
  • Therefore he was rebuking the palanquin carriers, including the self-realized brāhmaṇa Jaḍa Bharata.
  • King Rahūgaṇa argued that the living entity is within the body and that when the body is fatigued the living entity within must therefore be suffering.

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:

The King was very proud of his king’s body, but that body was simply another transformation of the earth. Out of his false prestige, the King was misbehaving toward the palanquin carrier, as a master toward a servant, and he was actually very unkind to other living entities.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. brāhmaṇaḥ uvācathe brāhmaṇa said
  2. ayamthis
  3. janaḥperson
  4. nāmacelebrated as such
  5. calanmoving
  6. pṛthivyāmon the earth
  7. yaḥwho
  8. pārthivaḥa transformation of the earth
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.12

    In this verse: “king”, “ruler”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 5.12

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understanding”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 bodily title or position do I most readily mistake for my real identity?

Practice

Write down one title you identify with, then remind yourself that you are the living entity within the body, not that title.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySee Beyond Bodies and Royal TitlesThis 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 5.12.5-6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.