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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.
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Canto 5 · Chapter 14: The Material World as the Great Forest of Enjoyment
5.14.215.14.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.14.22

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.14.20inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

कर्हि स्म चित्काममधुलवान् विचिन्वन् यदा परदारपरद्रव्याण्यवरुन्धानो राज्ञा स्वामिभिर्वा निहत: पतत्यपारे निरये ॥ २२ ॥

karhi sma cit kāma-madhu-lavān vicinvan yadā para-dāra-para-drav-yāṇy avarundhāno rājñā svāmibhir vā nihataḥ pataty apāre niraye.

Translation

The conditioned soul is sometimes attracted to the little happiness derived from sense gratification. Thus he has illicit sex or steals another’s property. At such a time he may be arrested by the government or chastised by the woman’s husband or protector. Thus simply for a little material satisfaction, he falls into a hellish condition and is put into jail for rape, kidnapping, theft and so forth.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Small Pleasures Can Bring Great Misery

  1. 1

    For a little sense gratification, the conditioned soul may commit acts that bring punishment and severe suffering. Illicit sex, gambling, intoxication and meat-eating keep him in danger.

  2. 2

    The purport warns that illicit sex can cause even devotees to fall from spiritual life. The pursuit of money to support sense enjoyment can lead to theft and other harmful acts.

  3. 3

    Human life should be used for spiritual emancipation, not merely sense gratification. Misusing this opportunity is compared to a miser’s failure to use wealth properly.

Key points from the purport
  • Material life is such that due to indulgence in illicit sex, gambling, intoxication and meat-eating, the conditioned soul is always in a dangerous condition.
  • Meat-eating and intoxication excite the senses more and more, and the conditioned soul falls victim to women.
  • Many devotees fall down due to illicit sex.

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. karhi sma citsometimes
  2. kāma-madhu-lavānlittle drops of honeylike sense gratification
  3. vicinvansearching after
  4. yadāwhen
  5. para-dāraanother’s wife, or a woman other than his own wife
  6. para-dravyāṇianother’s money and possessions
  7. avarundhānaḥtaking as his own property
  8. rājñāby the government
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”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.14

    In this verse: “government”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 5.14

    In this verse: “protector”

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

Is any short-lived pleasure drawing me away from spiritual realization?

Practice

Decline one opportunity for harmful sense gratification today and use that time for spiritual study.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySmall Pleasures Can Bring Great MiseryThis 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 5.14.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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