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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
5.15.35.15.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.15.4

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.15.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

य आत्मविद्यामाख्याय स्वयं संशुद्धो महापुरुषमनुसस्मार ॥ ४ ॥

ya ātma-vidyām ākhyāya svayaṁ saṁśuddho mahā-puruṣam anusasmāra.

Translation

King Pratīha personally propagated the principles of self-realization. In this way, not only was he purified, but he became a great devotee of the Supreme Person, Lord Viṣṇu, and directly realized Him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Realized Teachers Impart True Spiritual Knowledge

  1. 1

    King Pratīha taught the principles of self-realization, became purified and directly realized Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Person.

  2. 2

    God consciousness is not imaginary or concocted. A pure and advanced devotee realizes God as He is.

  3. 3

    A genuine preacher must realize Lord Viṣṇu before imparting spiritual knowledge. King Pratīha is presented as an example of a bona fide preacher and guru.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Pratīha did so, and due to his direct realization of Lord Viṣṇu, he propagated self-realization and became a preacher.
  • A real preacher cannot be bogus; he must first of all realize Lord Viṣṇu as He is.
  • The paragon of bona fide preachers and gurus is King Pratīha.

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· 1

The purport of SB 5.15.4 quotesBG 4.34

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.34), upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ: “One who has seen the truth can impart knowledge.”

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

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:

Pratīha was a very great devotee of Lord Viṣṇu, and he had three sons, named Pratihartā, Prastotā and Udgātā. Pratihartā had two sons, Aja and Bhūmā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥwho (King Pratīha)
  2. ātma-vidyām ākhyāyaafter instructing many people about self-realization
  3. svayampersonally
  4. saṁśuddhaḥbeing very advanced and purified in self-realization
  5. mahā-puruṣamthe Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu
  6. anusasmāraperfectly understood and always remembered
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 5.15

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 5.15

    In this verse: “principles”

  • 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 does this verse teach me to value in a spiritual teacher?

Practice

Write down one qualification of a genuine spiritual teacher given in this purport.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRealized Teachers Impart True Spiritual KnowledgeThis 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.

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