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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 14: The Material World as the Great Forest of Enjoyment

5.14.34 5.14.36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.14.35

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

क्‍वचिन्मिथो व्यवहरन् यत्किञ्चिद्धनमुपयाति वित्तशाठ्येन ॥ ३५ ॥

kvacin mitho vyavaharan yat kiñcid dhanam upayāti vitta-śāṭhyena.

Translation

Sometimes conditioned souls exchange money, but in due course of time, enmity arises because of cheating. Although there may be a tiny profit, the conditioned souls cease to be friends and become enemies.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Protect Friendship Through Honesty and Discipline

1
Cheating in financial dealings can turn friends into enemies, even when the profit is tiny. The desire for material comforts can create enmity among the closest companions.
2
Membership in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement does not by itself prevent wrongdoing. Without firmness in the regulative principles, material desires can still lead to harmful acts.
3
Strictly following the regulative principles helps keep the mind undisturbed. It also protects the work of spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness from dissension.

Key points from the purport

Sometimes this enmity is created between the conditioned soul and the father or spiritual master.
We therefore advise our disciples to strictly follow the regulative principles; otherwise the most important movement for the upliftment of humanity will be hampered due to dissension among its members.
Those who are serious about pushing forward this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement should remember this and strictly follow the regulative principles so that their minds will not be disturbed.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 5.14.35 quotesSB 5.5.8

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.5.8): The monkeylike conditioned soul first becomes attached to sex, and when intercourse actually takes place he becomes more attached.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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

Chapter 14: The Material World as the Great Forest of Enjoyment

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Sometimes, being in need of money, the conditioned soul steals and cheats, although he may apparently be associated with devotees for spiritual advancement. His only business is getting out of the clutches of māyā, but due to improper guidance he becomes more and more entangled in material dealings.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 5.14

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

kvacitsometimes or somewhere
mithaḥ vyavaharantransacting with each other
yatwhatever
kiñcitlittle bit
dhanammaterial benefit or wealth
upayātihe obtains
vitta-śāṭhyenaby means of cheating someone of his wealth

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
Sakhya · Sacred friendship
The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 5.14
In this verse: “friends”, “companions”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.14
In this verse: “material”
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 5.14
In this verse: “principles”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I allowing a small material gain to become more important than honesty and friendship?

Practice

Review one financial exchange today and make sure its terms are clear and honest.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 5.5.8

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 5.14's connections

Live this todayProtect Friendship Through Honesty and DisciplineThis 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 5.14.35? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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