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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
5.15.14-155.16.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.15.16

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

तत्रायं श्लोक:—

प्रैयव्रतं वंशमिमं विरजश्चरमोद्भ‍व: । अकरोदत्यलं कीर्त्या विष्णु: सुरगणं यथा ॥ १६ ॥

tatrāyaṁ ślokaḥ —

praiyavrataṁ vaṁśam imaṁ

virajaś caramodbhavaḥ

akarod aty-alaṁ kīrtyā

viṣṇuḥ sura-gaṇaṁ yathā

Translation

There is a famous verse about King Viraja. “Because of his high qualities and wide fame, King Viraja became the jewel of the dynasty of King Priyavrata, just as Lord Viṣṇu, by His transcendental potency, decorates and blesses the demigods.”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Noble Qualities Bring Glory to a Family

  1. 1

    King Viraja’s high qualities and wide fame made him the jewel of King Priyavrata’s dynasty. The translation compares this to Lord Viṣṇu decorating and blessing the demigods through His transcendental potency.

  2. 2

    A flowering tree becomes known for its fragrant flowers. Similarly, one distinguished person can make an entire family famous in history.

  3. 3

    Because Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appeared in the Yadu dynasty, that dynasty and the Yādavas remain famous for all time. King Viraja’s appearance likewise brought lasting fame to Mahārāja Priyavrata’s family.

Key points from the purport
  • Because of him, an entire family can become famous in history.
  • Because Lord Kṛṣṇa took birth in the Yadu dynasty, the Yadu dynasty and the Yādavas have remained famous for all time.
  • Because of King Viraja’s appearance, the family of Mahārāja Priyavrata has remained famous for all time.

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:

Viraja had one hundred sons and one daughter. Of these, the son named Śatajit became very famous.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tatrain that connection
  2. ayam ślokaḥthere is this famous verse
  3. praiyavratamcoming from King Priyavrata
  4. vaṁśamthe dynasty
  5. imamthis
  6. virajaḥKing Viraja
  7. carama-udbhavaḥthe source of one hundred sons (headed by Śatajit)
  8. akarotdecorated
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 5.15

    In this verse: “blesses”, “blessing”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.15

    In this verse: “king”

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

What good quality could I cultivate that would bring honor to my family?

Practice

Choose one good quality you value and express it in one concrete action today.

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 todayNoble Qualities Bring Glory to a FamilyThis 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 5.15.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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