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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 13: Further Talks Between King Rahūgaṇa and Jaḍa Bharata
5.13.155.13.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.13.16

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Jaḍa Bharata, who had fully realized Brahmansince 5.13.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitJaḍa Bharata → King Rahūgaṇa

प्रसज्जति क्‍वापि लताभुजाश्रय-

स्तदाश्रयाव्यक्तपदद्विजस्पृह: ।

क्‍वचित्कदाचिद्धरिचक्रतस्त्रसन्

सख्यं विधत्ते बककङ्कगृध्रै: ॥ १६ ॥

prasajjati kvāpi latā-bhujāśrayas

tad-āśrayāvyakta-pada-dvija-spṛhaḥ

kvacit kadācid dhari-cakratas trasan

sakhyaṁ vidhatte baka-kaṅka-gṛdhraiḥ

Translation

Sometimes the living entity in the forest of material existence takes shelter of creepers and desires to hear the chirping of the birds in those creepers. Being afraid of roaring lions in the forest, he makes friends with cranes, herons and vultures.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Take Shelter of the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    The creepers and chirping birds represent seeking happiness in a wife’s embrace and sweet voice. Later, imminent death appears like a roaring lion.

  2. 2

    Fear of death can lead a person to take shelter of false svāmīs, yogīs and spiritual pretenders. Such shelter cheats the person rather than saving him.

  3. 3

    No one can be saved from the danger of death without taking shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. To be saved from the lion of death, one must take shelter of supreme Hari.

Key points from the purport
  • Sometimes the living entity wants to take shelter of the creepers; in other words, he wants to be happy by being embraced by the creeperlike arms of his wife.
  • To be saved from the hands of hari, the lion of death, one must take shelter of the supreme Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • In the forest of the material world, the living entity first of all wants to be very happy by taking shelter of the creeperlike arms of his wife and hearing her sweet voice.

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 13: Further Talks Between King Rahūgaṇa and Jaḍa Bharata

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Expecting to become happy, the living entity changes his position from one place to another, but actually a materialistic person within the material world is never happy. Being constantly engaged in materialistic activities, he is always disturbed.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prasajjatibecomes more and more attached
  2. kvāpisometimes
  3. latā-bhuja-āśrayaḥwho takes shelter of the soft arms of his beautiful wife which are like creepers
  4. tat-āśrayawho are sheltered by such creepers
  5. avyakta-padawho sing unclear songs
  6. dvija-spṛhaḥdesiring to hear birds
  7. kvacitsometimes
  8. kadācitsomewhere
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 5.13

    In this verse: “afraid”, “fear”, “danger”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.13

    In this verse: “material”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 5.13

    In this verse: “friends”

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

When I feel afraid, do I seek shelter in the Supreme Lord or in reassuring appearances?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Hari today, asking for shelter rather than relying on spiritual pretenders.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTake Shelter of the Supreme LordThis 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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