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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 ›
Canto 5 · Chapter 14: The Material World as the Great Forest of Enjoyment
5.14.415.14.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.14.42

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.14.20inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तस्येदमुपगायन्ति—

आर्षभस्येह राजर्षेर्मनसापि महात्मन: । नानुवर्त्मार्हति नृपो मक्षिकेव गरुत्मत: ॥ ४२ ॥

tasyedam upagāyanti —

ārṣabhasyeha rājarṣer

manasāpi mahātmanaḥ

nānuvartmārhati nṛpo

makṣikeva garutmataḥ

Translation

Having summarized the teachings of Jaḍa Bharata, Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King Parīkṣit, the path indicated by Jaḍa Bharata is like the path followed by Garuḍa, the carrier of the Lord, and ordinary kings are just like flies. Flies cannot follow the path of Garuḍa, and to date none of the great kings and victorious leaders could follow this path of devotional service, not even mentally.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow the Devotional Path Through Chanting

  1. 1

    The path of Jaḍa Bharata is compared to Garuḍa’s flight, which ordinary flies cannot follow. Great kings could conquer enemies yet remain unable to conquer the bodily conception.

  2. 2

    Mental speculation and claims of perfection do not bring ultimate success. Devotional service becomes easy when one sincerely follows the path of great spiritual authorities.

  3. 3

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu opened a simple path for fallen souls. Everyone can take to it by chanting the holy name of the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • The path of devotional service is very difficult, even for great kings who have conquered many enemies.
  • The path of devotional service is undoubtedly very difficult to follow, but it becomes very easy if the candidate actually wants to follow the path of the mahājana.
  • We are very satisfied that this path is being opened by this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement because so many European and American boys and girls are taking this philosophy seriously and gradually attaining perfection.

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 5.14.42 quotesBG 7.3

As Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (7.3): “Out of many thousands among men, one may endeavor for perfection, and of those who have achieved perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.”

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

Further reading

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

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Thus they are like monkeys in the forest. Śrīla Śukadeva Gosvāmī thus explains the material forest and its difficult path to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasyaof Jaḍa Bharata
  2. idamthis glorification
  3. upagāyantithey sing
  4. ārṣabhasyaof the son of Ṛṣabhadeva
  5. ihahere
  6. rāja-ṛṣeḥof the great saintly King
  7. manasā apieven by the mind
  8. mahā-ātmanaḥof the great personality Jaḍa Bharata
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.14

    In this verse: “king”, “kings”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 5.14

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chanting”, “holy name”

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

Am I willing to follow the simple path of chanting rather than rely on my own claims or abilities?

Practice

Spend five minutes today chanting the holy name of the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFollow the Devotional Path Through ChantingThis 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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