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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 · Text 5.13.17

Who is speaking and story frame

तैर्वञ्चितो हंसकुलं समाविश-

न्नरोचयन् शीलमुपैति वानरान् ।

तज्जातिरासेन सुनिर्वृतेन्द्रिय:

परस्परोद्वीक्षणविस्मृतावधि: ॥ १७ ॥

tair vañcito haṁsa-kulaṁ samāviśann

arocayan śīlam upaiti vānarān

taj-jāti-rāsena sunirvṛtendriyaḥ

parasparodvīkṣaṇa-vismṛtāvadhiḥ

Translation

Being cheated by them, the living entity in the forest of the material world tries to give up the association of these so-called yogīs, svāmīs and incarnations and come to the association of real devotees, but due to misfortune he cannot follow the instructions of the spiritual master or advanced devotees; therefore he gives up their company and again returns to the association of monkeys who are simply interested in sense gratification and women. He derives satisfaction by associating with sense gratifiers and enjoying sex and intoxication. In this way he spoils his life simply by indulging in sex and intoxication. Looking into the faces of other sense gratifiers, he becomes forgetful and thus approaches death.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Stay With Devotees and Follow Their Guidance

  1. 1

    A person may leave bad association, approach devotees and accept a spiritual master. Yet failure to follow the spiritual master’s instructions can lead him to leave that association.

  2. 2

    Outward resemblance to a sādhu does not establish spiritual character. The purport compares pretended spiritualists absorbed in sexual enjoyment to monkeys.

  3. 3

    Returning to companions interested only in sex and intoxication revives the same habits. In this satisfaction, one forgets the approaching end of life.

Key points from the purport
  • Sometimes a foolish person becomes disgusted with bad association and comes to the association of devotees and brāhmaṇas and takes initiation from a spiritual master.
  • As advised by the spiritual master, he tries to follow the regulative principles, but due to misfortune he cannot follow the instructions of the spiritual master.
  • Sometimes so-called spiritualists seeking a spiritual life come to associate with Kṛṣṇa conscious devotees, but they cannot execute the regulative principles or follow the path of spiritual life.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. taiḥby them (the cheaters and pretenders, the so-called yogīs, svāmīs, incarnations and gurus)
  2. vañcitaḥbeing cheated
  3. haṁsa-kulamthe association of great paramahaṁsas, or devotees
  4. samāviśancontacting
  5. arocayannot being satisfied with
  6. śīlamtheir behavior
  7. upaitiapproaches
  8. vānarānthe monkeys, which are all debauchees with no good character
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 5.13

    In this verse: “give up”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which association helps me follow spiritual instruction rather than abandon it?

Practice

Choose one instruction you have received from your spiritual master or advanced devotees and consciously follow it today.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayStay With Devotees and Follow Their GuidanceThis 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 5.13.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.