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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
5.13.225.13.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.13.23

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Rahūgaṇasince 5.13.21inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitJaḍa Bharata → King Rahūgaṇa

नमो महद्‍भ्योऽस्तु नम: शिशुभ्यो

नमो युवभ्यो नम आवटुभ्य: ।

ये ब्राह्मणा गामवधूतलिङ्गा-

श्चरन्ति तेभ्य: शिवमस्तु राज्ञाम् ॥ २३ ॥

namo mahadbhyo ’stu namaḥ śiśubhyo

namo yuvabhyo nama āvaṭubhyaḥ

ye brāhmaṇā gām avadhūta-liṅgāś

caranti tebhyaḥ śivam astu rājñām

Translation

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the great personalities, whether they walk on the earth’s surface as children, young boys, avadhūtas or great brāhmaṇas. Even if they are hidden under different guises, I offer my respects to all of them. By their mercy, may there be good fortune in the royal dynasties that are always offending them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Respect Devotees Beyond Outward Appearances

  1. 1

    Repentant for his treatment of Jaḍa Bharata, Rahūgaṇa offered respects to self-realized persons in every guise. Great personalities may appear as children, young people or avadhūtas.

  2. 2

    Pride in worldly position can lead one to offend great personalities. Rahūgaṇa prayed for their mercy upon royal dynasties guilty of such offenses.

  3. 3

    One should carefully avoid offending Vaiṣṇavas and brāhmaṇas. The Supreme Personality of Godhead does not excuse such an offense merely because the offended person does not take it personally.

Key points from the purport
  • He therefore began offering prayers to all kinds of brāhmaṇas and self-realized persons, even though they might be playing like children or hiding in some guises.
  • Therefore King Rahūgaṇa began to offer his respectful obeisances unto them so that the offensive royal dynasties might not glide down into a hellish condition.
  • Lord Viṣṇu would not grant him pardon; therefore he had to fall down at the lotus feet of Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, even though Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was a kṣatriya-gṛhastha.

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:

Being constantly engaged in materialistic activities, he is always disturbed. He forgets that one day he has to die.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. namaḥall obeisances
  2. mahadbhyaḥunto the great personalities
  3. astulet there be
  4. namaḥmy obeisances
  5. śiśubhyaḥunto those great personalities who appear as boys
  6. namaḥrespectful obeisances
  7. yuvabhyaḥunto those who appear as young men
  8. namaḥrespectful obeisances
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 5.13

    In this verse: “offending”, “pride”, “offenses”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 5.13

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • 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

Do I let someone’s appearance or social position determine the respect I offer?

Practice

Before judging someone by appearance today, pause and choose respectful words.

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.

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

Live this todayRespect Devotees Beyond Outward AppearancesThis 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 5.13.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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