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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
5.12.85.12.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.12.9

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The self-realized brāhmaṇa Jaḍa Bharatasince 5.12.5-6inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitJaḍa Bharata → King Rahūgaṇa

एवं निरुक्तं क्षितिशब्दवृत्त-

मसन्निधानात्परमाणवो ये ।

अविद्यया मनसा कल्पितास्ते

येषां समूहेन कृतो विशेष: ॥ ९ ॥

evaṁ niruktaṁ kṣiti-śabda-vṛttam

asan nidhānāt paramāṇavo ye

avidyayā manasā kalpitās te

yeṣāṁ samūhena kṛto viśeṣaḥ

Translation

One may say that varieties arise from the planet earth itself. However, although the universe may temporarily appear to be the truth, it ultimately has no real existence. The earth was originally created by a combination of atomic particles, but these particles are impermanent. Actually the atom is not the cause of the universe, although some philosophers think so. It is not a fact that the varieties found in this material world simply result from atomic juxtaposition or combination.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Is the Cause of All Causes

  1. 1

    The earth and its atomic particles are impermanent. Their combinations do not explain the ultimate cause of the universe.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that an atomic theory leaves the cause of atomic existence itself undiscovered. Atoms therefore cannot be accepted as the original cause.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the original cause of creation. He is the cause of atoms and material energy—the cause of all causes.

Key points from the purport
  • However, the scientists fail to discover the cause of atomic existence itself.
  • According to real intelligence, the real cause of the cosmic manifestation is the Supreme Lord.
  • Kṛṣṇa is the cause of atoms, the material energy.

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 5.12.9 quotesBG 10.8

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (10.8): ahaṁ sarvasya prabhavo mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate.

The purport of SB 5.12.9 quotesBG 7.4

bhinnā prakṛtir aṣṭadhā. The ultimate cause is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and only those in ignorance try to find out other causes by posing different theories.

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 12: Conversation Between Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa and Jaḍa Bharata

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Actually the varieties are one and the same, and ultimately all these varieties are vanquished into atoms. Nothing is permanent in this material world.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. niruktamfalsely described
  3. kṣiti-śabdaof the word “earth”
  4. vṛttamthe existence
  5. asatnot real
  6. nidhānātfrom the dissolution
  7. parama-aṇavaḥatomic particles
  8. yeall of which
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 5.12

    In this verse: “philosophers”

  • 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

Does my search for understanding stop at material ingredients, or reach their original cause?

Practice

Look at one material object today and reflect that its ingredients also have a cause: ultimately, Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is the Cause of All CausesThis 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 5.12.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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