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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.14.9

Who is speaking and story frame

क्‍वचिच्च वात्यौपम्यया प्रमदयाऽऽरोहमारोपितस्तत्कालरजसा रजनीभूत इवासाधुमर्यादो रजस्वलाक्षोऽपि दिग्देवता अतिरजस्वलमतिर्न विजानाति ॥ ९ ॥

kvacic ca vātyaupamyayā pramadayāroham āropitas tat-kāla-rajasā rajanī-bhūta ivāsādhu-maryādo rajas-valākṣo ’pi dig-devatā atirajas-vala-matir na vijānāti.

Translation

Sometimes, as if blinded by the dust of a whirlwind, the conditioned soul sees the beauty of the opposite sex, which is called pramadā. Being thus bewildered, he is raised upon the lap of a woman, and at that time his good senses are overcome by the force of passion. He thus becomes almost blind with lusty desire and disobeys the rules and regulations governing sex life. He does not know that his disobedience is witnessed by different demigods, and he enjoys illicit sex in the dead of night, not seeing the future punishment awaiting him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Lust Blinds; Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Protects

  1. 1

    Lusty desire can overcome good sense, like dust that blinds someone in a whirlwind. The purport teaches that sex is meant for begetting good children, not simply for enjoyment.

  2. 2

    A person may think that wrongdoing remains unseen, but the agents of the Supreme Personality of Godhead witness it. Disobedience brings suffering under the laws of material nature.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that these sinful activities can be avoided by remaining on the transcendental platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Association with the mode of passion instead brings repeated suffering.

Key points from the purport
  • A person enjoys illicit sex, and due to his blind, lusty desire, he thinks that no one can see him, but this illicit sex is thoroughly observed by the agents of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Illicit sex is never excused, and those who indulge in it are punished life after life.
  • The Supreme Personality of Godhead does not allow anyone to act against the stringent laws of material nature; therefore illicit sex is punished life after life.

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 5.14.9 quotesBG 7.11

In Bhagavad-gītā (7.11) it is said: dharmāviruddho bhūteṣu kāmo ’smi bharatarṣabha.

The purport of SB 5.14.9 quotesBG 16.20

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (16.20): “Attaining repeated birth among the species of demoniac life, such persons can never approach Me.

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:

The demigods also witness, but the conditioned soul thinks that his attempts at sense gratification are not being witnessed by anyone. Sometimes, when he is detected, he temporarily renounces everything, but due to his great attachment for the body, his renunciation is given up before he can attain perfection.
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. kvacitsometimes
  2. caalso
  3. vātyā aupamyayācompared to a whirlwind
  4. pramadayāby a beautiful woman
  5. āroham āropitaḥraised onto the lap for sex enjoyment
  6. tat-kāla-rajasāby the passion of lusty desires at that moment
  7. rajanī-bhūtaḥthe darkness of night
  8. ivalike
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “lusty”, “material”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.14

    In this verse: “governing”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “suffering”

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

When desire becomes strong, do I forget the consequences of my actions?

Practice

When a lustful impulse arises today, pause rather than act on it, and turn your attention to Kṛṣṇa.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLust Blinds; Kṛṣṇa Consciousness ProtectsThis 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 5.14.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.