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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
5.14.435.14.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.14.44

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.14.44inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यो दुस्त्यजान् क्षितिसुतस्वजनार्थदारान्प्रार्थ्यां श्रियं सुरवरै: सदयावलोकाम् । नैच्छन्नृपस्तदुचितं महतां मधुद्विट-सेवानुरक्तमनसामभवोऽपि फल्गु: ॥ ४४ ॥

yo dustyajān kṣiti-suta-svajanārtha-dārān

prārthyāṁ śriyaṁ sura-varaiḥ sadayāvalokām

naicchan nṛpas tad-ucitaṁ mahatāṁ madhudviṭ-

sevānurakta-manasām abhavo ’pi phalguḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: My dear King, the activities of Bharata Mahārāja are wonderful. He gave up everything difficult for others to give up. He gave up his kingdom, his wife and his family. His opulence was so great that even the demigods envied it, yet he gave it up. It was quite befitting a great personality like him to be a great devotee. He could renounce everything because he was so attracted to the beauty, opulence, reputation, knowledge, strength and renunciation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa is so attractive that one can give up all desirable things for His sake. Indeed, even liberation is considered insignificant for those whose minds are attracted to the loving service of the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Service Surpasses Even Liberation

  1. 1

    Bharata Mahārāja could renounce extraordinary opulence because he was attracted to Kṛṣṇa’s qualities. Attachment to possessions instead strengthens the illusion of “I and mine.”

  2. 2

    For one attracted to the Lord’s loving service, even liberation becomes insignificant. A devotee is satisfied serving Kṛṣṇa in any condition, whether reborn or not.

  3. 3

    One who serves Kṛṣṇa with body, mind, intelligence, and words is liberated even within this world. Such a devotee desires to help others understand that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Bharata was so attracted to Kṛṣṇa that he gave up all his material possessions.
  • The attraction for material things is certainly due to illusion.
  • The Māyāvādīs are attracted to merging into the existence of the Lord, but Kṛṣṇa is more attractive than the desire to merge.

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· 2

The purport of SB 5.14.44 quotesSB 5.5.8

janasya moho ’yam ahaṁ mameti. “One becomes attracted to his body, home, property, children, relatives and wealth.

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 9.269

This is a verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.14.44) concerning the glorification of King Bharata, whom Śukadeva Gosvāmī was describing to King Parīkṣit.

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. yaḥwho
  2. dustyajānvery difficult to give up
  3. kṣitithe earth
  4. sutachildren
  5. sva-jana-artha-dārānrelatives, riches and a beautiful wife
  6. prārthyāmdesirable
  7. śriyamthe goddess of fortune
  8. sura-varaiḥby the best of the demigods
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 5.14

    In this verse: “renounce”, “give up”, “gave up”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.14

    In this verse: “king”, “kingdom”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 5.14

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

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

Can I value service to Kṛṣṇa more than a change in my circumstances?

Practice

Use your words today to share with one willing person that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that loving service to Him is life’s goal.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLoving Service Surpasses Even LiberationThis 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 5.14.44? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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