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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
5.14.335.14.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.14.34

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

क्‍वचिच्छीतवाताद्यनेकदैविकभौतिकात्मीयानां दु:खानां प्रतिनिवारणेऽकल्पो दुरन्तविषयविषण्ण आस्ते ॥ ३४ ॥

kvacic chīta-vātādy-aneka-daivika-bhautikātmīyānāṁ duḥkhānāṁ pratinivāraṇe ’kalpo duranta-viṣaya-viṣaṇṇa āste.

Translation

The conditioned soul suffers many miserable bodily conditions, such as being affected by severe cold and strong winds. He also suffers due to the activities of other living beings and due to natural disturbances. When he is unable to counteract them and has to remain in a miserable condition, he naturally becomes very morose because he wants to enjoy material facilities.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Material Comfort Cannot Prevent Every Misery

  1. 1

    The conditioned soul suffers bodily difficulties, including severe cold and strong winds. Material life does not provide uninterrupted comfort.

  2. 2

    Other living beings and natural disturbances also cause suffering. Sometimes the conditioned soul cannot counteract these troubles.

  3. 3

    When suffering continues, the desire to enjoy material facilities brings deep disappointment. The verse connects this distress with frustrated hopes for enjoyment.

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 path of fruitive activities leads to difficult mountains, and sometimes the conditioned soul wants to cross these mountains, but he is never successful, and consequently he becomes more and more aggrieved and disappointed. Becoming materially and financially embarrassed, the conditioned soul unnecessarily chastises his family.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kvacitsometimes
  2. śīta-vāta-ādisuch as extreme cold or wind
  3. anekamany
  4. daivikaoffered by the demigods or powers beyond our control
  5. bhautikaoffered by other living entities
  6. ātmīyānāmoffered by the conditioned material body and mind
  7. duḥkhānāmthe many miseries
  8. pratinivāraṇein counteracting
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: “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 5.14

    In this verse: “suffering”, “distress”

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 expectation of constant comfort affect my response to unavoidable difficulty?

Practice

When a discomfort arises today, pause and notice whether your expectation of comfort is adding to your distress.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMaterial Comfort Cannot Prevent Every 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.

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