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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 15: The Glories of the Descendants of King Priyavrata
5.15.95.15.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.15.10

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.15.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यमभ्यषिञ्चन् परया मुदा सती:सत्याशिषो दक्षकन्या: सरिद्भ‍ि: । यस्य प्रजानां दुदुहे धराऽऽशिषोनिराशिषो गुणवत्सस्‍नुतोधा: ॥ १० ॥

yam abhyaṣiñcan parayā mudā satīḥ

satyāśiṣo dakṣa-kanyāḥ saridbhiḥ

yasya prajānāṁ duduhe dharāśiṣo

nirāśiṣo guṇa-vatsa-snutodhāḥ

Translation

All the chaste and honest daughters of Mahārāja Dakṣa, such as Śraddhā, Maitrī and Dayā, whose blessings were always effective, bathed Mahārāja Gaya with sanctified water. Indeed, they were very satisfied with Mahārāja Gaya. The planet earth personified came as a cow, and, as though she saw her calf, she delivered milk profusely when she saw all the good qualities of Mahārāja Gaya. In other words, Mahārāja Gaya was able to derive all benefits from the earth and thus satisfy the desires of his citizens. However, he personally had no desire.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Resources for Others Without Personal Desire

  1. 1

    The honest daughters of Mahārāja Dakṣa, including Śraddhā, Maitrī and Dayā, were pleased with Gaya and bathed him with sanctified water. The purport emphasizes that rulers need the blessings of authorities.

  2. 2

    The earth is compared to a cow, and Gaya’s good qualities to her calf. Just as a cow gives milk in her calf’s presence, the earth supplied resources through his good rule.

  3. 3

    Gaya used the earth’s resources to satisfy his citizens, while personally having no desire. Through a ruler’s good qualities, citizens become happy and well qualified.

Key points from the purport
  • The good qualities whereby he maintained and ruled the citizens are compared to the calf.
  • A cow delivers milk in the presence of her calf; similarly the cow, or earth, fulfilled the desires of Mahārāja Gaya, who was able to utilize all the resources of the earth to benefit his citizens.
  • Through the good qualities of the ruler, the citizens become very happy and well qualified.

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

How it feels

Smallness → Awe and reverence. A vast cosmos changes the reader's perspective.

Chapters 15–25 of Canto 5: The cosmic regions and divine worship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 15: The Glories of the Descendants of King Priyavrata

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

King Gaya had sons named Citraratha, Sumati and Avarodhana. The son of Citraratha was the emperor Samrāṭ, and his son was Marīci, whose son was Bindu.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yamwhom
  2. abhyaṣiñcanbathed
  3. parayāwith great
  4. mudāsatisfaction
  5. satīḥall chaste and devoted to their husbands
  6. satyatrue
  7. āśiṣaḥwhose blessings
  8. dakṣa-kanyāḥthe daughters of King Dakṣa
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 5.15

    In this verse: “citizens”, “rulers”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 5.15

    In this verse: “blessings”

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 can I use what is available to me for someone else’s benefit without seeking a personal reward?

Practice

Share one useful resource today with someone who needs it, without asking for anything in return.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

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

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 5.15's connections

Live this todayUse Resources for Others Without Personal DesireThis 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 5.15.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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