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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 5.14.2

Who is speaking and story frame

यस्यामु ह वा एते षडिन्द्रियनामान: कर्मणा दस्यव एव ते । तद्यथा पुरुषस्य धनं यत्किञ्चिद्धर्मौपयिकं बहुकृच्छ्राधिगतं साक्षात्परमपुरुषाराधनलक्षणो योऽसौ धर्मस्तं तु साम्पराय उदाहरन्ति । तद्धर्म्यं धनं दर्शनस्पर्शनश्रवणास्वादनावघ्राणसङ्कल्पव्यवसायगृहग्राम्योपभोगेन कुनाथस्याजितात्मनो यथा सार्थस्य विलुम्पन्ति ॥ २ ॥

yasyām u ha vā ete ṣaḍ-indriya-nāmānaḥ karmaṇā dasyava eva te; tad yathā puruṣasya dhanaṁ yat kiñcid dharmaupayikaṁ bahu-kṛcchrādhigataṁ sākṣāt parama-puruṣārādhana-lakṣaṇo yo ’sau dharmas taṁ tu sāmparāya udāharanti; tad-dharmyaṁ dhanaṁ darśana-sparśana-śravaṇāsvādanāvaghrāṇa-saṅkalpa-vyavasāya-gṛha-grāmyopabhogena kunāthasyājitātmano yathā sārthasya vilum-panti.

Translation

In the forest of material existence, the uncontrolled senses are like plunderers. The conditioned soul may earn some money for the advancement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, but unfortunately the uncontrolled senses plunder his money through sense gratification. The senses are plunderers because they make one spend his money unnecessarily for seeing, smelling, tasting, touching, hearing, desiring and willing. In this way the conditioned soul is obliged to gratify his senses, and thus all his money is spent. This money is actually acquired for the execution of religious principles, but it is taken away by the plundering senses.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Engage Your Senses in Kṛṣṇa’s Service

  1. 1

    Wealth, learning, beauty and high birth are meant for the advancement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Uncontrolled senses act like plunderers when these assets are wasted on sense gratification.

  2. 2

    One should practice a little austerity and use money for the regulated life of devotional service. In this way, favorable circumstances need not be spoiled.

  3. 3

    The senses can be engaged in serving the Deity and hearing the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. Rather than satisfying every demand, one can regulate the senses to advance Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • One who has all these assets should know that they are all meant for the advancement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
  • The good position one attains by executing religious principles is wasted as the plundering senses take it away.
  • In this way the senses can be regulated and utilized to advance Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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 14: The Material World as the Great Forest of Enjoyment

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The demigods also witness, but the conditioned soul thinks that his attempts at sense gratification are not being witnessed by anyone. Sometimes, when he is detected, he temporarily renounces everything, but due to his great attachment for the body, his renunciation is given up before he can attain perfection.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yasyāmin which
  2. u hacertainly
  3. vāor
  4. eteall these
  5. ṣaṭ-indriya-nāmānaḥwho are named the six senses (the mind and the five knowledge-acquiring senses)
  6. karmaṇāby their activity
  7. dasyavaḥthe plunderers
  8. evacertainly
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 5.14

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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 5.14

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 5.14

    In this verse: “hearing”

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 demand of my senses most often draws my resources away from devotional service?

Practice

Spend a few minutes listening attentively to the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEngage Your Senses in Kṛṣṇa’s ServiceThis 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 5.14.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.