1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 5 · The Creative Impetus · 26 chapters

1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526

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
5.13.15.13.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.13.2

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

यस्यामिमे षण्नरदेव दस्यव:

सार्थं विलुम्पन्ति कुनायकं बलात् ।

गोमायवो यत्र हरन्ति सार्थिकं

प्रमत्तमाविश्य यथोरणं वृका: ॥ २ ॥

yasyām ime ṣaṇ nara-deva dasyavaḥ

sārthaṁ vilumpanti kunāyakaṁ balāt

gomāyavo yatra haranti sārthikaṁ

pramattam āviśya yathoraṇaṁ vṛkāḥ

Translation

O King Rahūgaṇa, in this forest of material existence there are six very powerful plunderers. When the conditioned soul enters the forest to acquire some material gain, the six plunderers misguide him. Thus the conditioned merchant does not know how to spend his money, and it is taken away by these plunderers. Like tigers, jackals and other ferocious animals in a forest that are ready to take away a lamb from the custody of its protector, the wife and children enter the heart of the merchant and plunder him in so many ways.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Wealth for Your Real Self-Interest

  1. 1

    The conditioned soul is compared to a merchant misled and plundered in a forest. Without knowing life's aim, he spends his hard-earned money on material demands and sense gratification.

  2. 2

    The aim of life is Viṣṇu. Our real self-interest is serving Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, rather than merely satisfying material desires.

  3. 3

    Money can support the advancement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Spending it on sinful activities instead binds the living entity to accepting one body after another.

Key points from the purport
  • In the forest there are many plunderers, dacoits, jackals and tigers.
  • In the dead of night, jackals cry very loudly, and similarly one’s wife and children in this material world also cry like jackals.
  • Being thus absorbed in a distressed condition, one never attains happiness.

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:

In this forest there are plunderers (the six senses) as well as carnivorous animals like jackals, wolves and lions (wife, children and other relatives) who are always anxious to suck the blood from the head of the family. The forest plunderers and the carnivorous blood-sucking animals combine to exploit the energy of a man within this material world.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yasyāmin which (in the forest of material existence)
  2. imethese
  3. ṣaṭsix
  4. nara-devaO King
  5. dasyavaḥthe plunderers
  6. sa-arthamthe conditioned souls, who are interested in false ideas
  7. vilumpantiplunder, regularly taking away all the possessions
  8. ku-nāyakamwho are always misguided by so-called gurus, or spiritual masters
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.13

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 5.13

    In this verse: “children”

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

How does my spending reflect the aim of serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Practice

Set aside a small amount today to support the advancement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUse Wealth for Your Real Self-InterestThis 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 5.13.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories