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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 15: The Glories of the Descendants of King Priyavrata

5.15.12 5.15.14-15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.15.13

Āśraya· The supreme shelter

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.15.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यत्प्रीणनाद्ब‍‌र्हिषि देवतिर्यङ्-मनुष्यवीरुत्तृणमाविरिञ्चात् । प्रीयेत सद्य: स ह विश्वजीव:प्रीत: स्वयं प्रीतिमगाद्गयस्य ॥ १३ ॥

yat-prīṇanād barhiṣi deva-tiryaṅ-

manuṣya-vīrut-tṛṇam āviriñcāt

prīyeta sadyaḥ sa ha viśva-jīvaḥ

prītaḥ svayaṁ prītim agād gayasya

Translation

When the Supreme Lord is pleased by a person’s actions, automatically all the demigods, human beings, animals, birds, bees, creepers, trees, grass and all other living entities, beginning with Lord Brahmā, are pleased. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Supersoul of everyone, and He is by nature fully pleased. Nonetheless, He came to the arena of Mahārāja Gaya and said, “I am fully pleased.”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pleasing the Lord Pleases All

1
By satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one satisfies the demigods and all other living entities without differentiation.
2
Pouring water on a tree’s root nourishes its branches, twigs, flowers and leaves. Similarly, pleasing the Supreme Lord brings satisfaction to all.
3
The Supreme Lord is the Supersoul of everyone and is naturally self-satisfied. Yet Mahārāja Gaya’s behavior pleased Him so much that He personally declared His satisfaction.

Key points from the purport

It is explicitly stated herein that simply by satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one satisfies the demigods and all other living entities without differentiation.
If one pours water on the root of a tree, all the branches, twigs, flowers and leaves are nourished.
Although the Supreme Lord is self-satisfied, He was so pleased with the behavior of Mahārāja Gaya that He personally came to the sacrificial arena and said, “I am fully satisfied.”

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

Chapter 15: The Glories of the Descendants of King Priyavrata

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Actually King Gaya was a partial incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu, and because of his great devotion to Lord Viṣṇu he received the title Mahāpuruṣa. King Gaya had sons named Citraratha, Sumati and Avarodhana.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 5.15