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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 13: Further Talks Between King Rahūgaṇa and Jaḍa Bharata
5.13.185.13.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.13.19

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

अत: कथञ्चित्स विमुक्त आपद:

पुनश्च सार्थं प्रविशत्यरिन्दम ।

अध्वन्यमुष्मिन्नजया निवेशितो

भ्रमञ्जनोऽद्यापि न वेद कश्चन ॥ १९ ॥

ataḥ kathañcit sa vimukta āpadaḥ

punaś ca sārthaṁ praviśaty arindama

adhvany amuṣminn ajayā niveśito

bhramañ jano ’dyāpi na veda kaścana

Translation

O killer of enemies, Mahārāja Rahūgaṇa, if the conditioned soul somehow or other gets out of his dangerous position, he again returns to his home to enjoy sex life, for that is the way of attachment. Thus, under the spell of the Lord’s material energy, he continues to loiter in the forest of material existence. He does not discover his real interest even at the point of death.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recognize Life’s Real Goal

  1. 1

    Sexual attraction can entangle the conditioned soul so deeply that he does not understand the real aim of life. Even after escaping danger, he returns to the same attachments.

  2. 2

    Those who are spiritually advanced look to the lotus feet of Viṣṇu. The ultimate goal is to revive our relationship with Him.

  3. 3

    Without interest in that relationship, the conditioned soul remains captivated by material activities. Misled by so-called leaders, he continues in material bondage.

Key points from the purport
  • When one is captured by sexual attraction, he becomes implicated in so many ways and cannot understand the real aim of life.
  • Therefore Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.31) says, na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum: generally people do not understand the ultimate goal of life.
  • The conditioned soul, however, not being interested in reviving his relationship with Viṣṇu, becomes captivated by material activities and remains in everlasting bondage, being misled by so-called leaders.

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· 1

The purport of SB 5.13.19 quotesSB 7.5.31

Therefore Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.31) says, na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum: generally people do not understand the ultimate goal of life.

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 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. ataḥfrom this
  2. kathañcitsomehow
  3. saḥhe
  4. vimuktaḥliberated
  5. āpadaḥfrom the danger
  6. punaḥ caagain
  7. sa-arthamtaking interest in that life
  8. praviśatibegins
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: “dangerous”, “death”, “danger”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attachment”, “material”, “attachments”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 5.13

    In this verse: “understand”

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 attachment distracts me from reviving my relationship with Viṣṇu?

Practice

Pause before one habitual pleasure today and spend a minute remembering the lotus feet of Viṣṇu.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 7.5.31

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 5.13's connections

Live this todayRecognize Life’s Real GoalThis 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 5.13.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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