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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
5.14.325.14.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.14.33

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

एवमध्वन्यवरुन्धानो मृत्युगजभयात्तमसि गिरिकन्दरप्राये ॥ ३३ ॥

evam adhvany avarundhāno mṛtyu-gaja-bhayāt tamasi giri-kandara-prāye.

Translation

In this material world, when the conditioned soul forgets his relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead and does not care for Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he simply engages in different types of mischievous and sinful activities. He is then subjected to the threefold miseries, and, out of fear of the elephant of death, he falls into the darkness found in a mountain cave.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remember Kṛṣṇa Amid Fear of Death

  1. 1

    Forgetting one’s relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead leads to neglect of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The conditioned soul then becomes absorbed in sinful activities and suffers the threefold miseries.

  2. 2

    However strong a materialistic person may seem, disease and old age bring death’s notice. Material strength cannot prevent its arrival.

  3. 3

    The fear of death is compared to entering a dark mountain cave, while death is compared to a great elephant. Receiving death’s notice makes the conditioned soul deeply morose.

Key points from the purport
  • Everyone is afraid of death, and however strong a materialistic person may be, when there is disease and old age one must certainly accept death’s notice.
  • The conditioned soul becomes very morose to receive notice of death.
  • His fear is compared to the fear experienced upon entering a dark mountain cave, and death is compared to a great elephant.

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:

When asleep, the conditioned soul completely forgets his real existence, and in sleep he does not feel the tribulations of material life. Sometimes, being in need of money, the conditioned soul steals and cheats, although he may apparently be associated with devotees for spiritual advancement.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.14
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamin this way
  2. adhvanion the path of sense gratification
  3. avarundhānaḥbeing confined, he forgets the real purpose of life
  4. mṛtyu-gaja-bhayātout of fear of the elephant of death
  5. tamasiin the darkness
  6. giri-kandara-prāyesimilar to the dark caves in the mountains
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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 5.14

    In this verse: “fear”, “death”, “death’s”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.14

    In this verse: “material”, “materialistic”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 5.14

    In this verse: “sinful”

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 remembering my relationship with Kṛṣṇa change the way I face life’s uncertainty?

Practice

Take a quiet minute today to remember your relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead rather than setting aside the reality of death.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemember Kṛṣṇa Amid Fear of DeathThis 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.

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