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Study a Verse

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 16: A Description of Jambūdvīpa
5.16.195.16.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 5.16.20-21

Sthāna· The universe in order

तावदुभयोरपि रोधसोर्या मृत्तिका तद्रसेनानुविध्यमाना वाय्वर्कसंयोगविपाकेन सदामरलोकाभरणं जाम्बूनदं नाम सुवर्णं भवति ॥ २० ॥

यदु ह वाव विबुधादय: सह युवतिभिर्मुकुटकटककटिसूत्राद्याभरणरूपेण खलु धारयन्ति ॥ २१ ॥

tāvad ubhayor api rodhasor yā mṛttikā tad-rasenānuvidhyamānā vāyv-arka-saṁyoga-vipākena sadāmara-lokābharaṇaṁ jāmbū-nadaṁ nāma suvarṇaṁ bhavati; yad u ha vāva vibudhādayaḥ saha yuvatibhir mukuṭa-kaṭaka-kaṭi-sūtrādy-ābharaṇa-rūpeṇa khalu dhārayanti.

Translation

The mud on both banks of the river Jambū-nadī, being moistened by the flowing juice and then dried by the air and the sunshine, produces huge quantities of gold called Jāmbū-nada. The denizens of heaven use this gold for various kinds of ornaments. Therefore all the inhabitants of the heavenly planets and their youthful wives are fully decorated with golden helmets, bangles and belts, and thus they enjoy life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Devotional Service, Not Golden Opulence

  1. 1

    By the arrangement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, mud on the banks of Jambū-nadī produces abundant Jāmbū-nada gold. The mud is moistened by fruit juice and dried by air and sunshine.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Prabhupāda warns against accepting someone as God merely because he produces a little gold. Such attraction reveals an incomplete understanding of the Lord’s opulence.

  3. 3

    Pure devotees are not attracted by heavenly wealth, beauty or followers. Following Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s prayer, they seek only unmotivated devotional service and shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet.

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.