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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

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 17: The Descent of the River Ganges

5.17.10 5.17.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.17.11

Sthāna· The universe in order

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.17.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तत्रापि भारतमेव वर्षं कर्मक्षेत्रमन्यान्यष्ट वर्षाणि स्वर्गिणां पुण्यशेषोपभोगस्थानानि भौमानि स्वर्गपदानि व्यपदिशन्ति ॥ ११ ॥

tatrāpi bhāratam eva varṣaṁ karma-kṣetram anyāny aṣṭa varṣāṇi svargiṇāṁ puṇya-śeṣopabhoga-sthānāni bhaumāni svarga-padāni vyapadiśanti.

Translation

Among the nine varṣas, the tract of land known as Bhārata-varṣa is understood to be the field of fruitive activities. Learned scholars and saintly persons declare the other eight varṣas to be meant for very highly elevated pious persons. After returning from the heavenly planets, they enjoy the remaining results of their pious activities in these eight earthly varṣas.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Choose Devotional Service Over Heavenly Enjoyment

1
Bhārata-varṣa is the field of fruitive activities. The other eight varṣas offer enjoyment of the remaining results of pious activities after a return from heaven.
2
Intelligent persons take to devotional service rather than wander up and down throughout the universes. Their goal is the spiritual kingdom, not temporary heavenly pleasure.
3
A bona fide guru represents Kṛṣṇa and distributes His instructions without change. Pure devotional service means serving Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, favorably, simply to please Him.

Key points from the purport

Those who are sincerely seeking the favor of Kṛṣṇa come in contact with a guru, a bona fide representative of Kṛṣṇa.
From all angles of vision, therefore, the word guru is especially meant for the bona fide representative of Kṛṣṇa and no one else.
Even the most qualified brāhmaṇa cannot become a guru if he is not a representative of Kṛṣṇa.

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 5.17.11 quotesBG 9.21

In Bhagavad-gītā (9.21) Kṛṣṇa says, kṣīṇe puṇye martya-lokaṁ viśanti: when the persons living in the heavenly planets exhaust the results of their pious activities, they return to this earth.

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

Chapter 17: The Descent of the River Ganges

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The tract of land known as Bhārata-varṣa is the field of activities, and the other eight varṣas are for persons who are meant to enjoy heavenly comfort. In each of these eight beautiful provinces, the celestial denizens enjoy various standards of material comfort and pleasure.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 5.17

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

tatra apiout of all of them
bhāratamknown as Bhārata-varṣa
evacertainly
varṣamthe tract of land
karma-kṣetramthe field of activities
anyānithe others
aṣṭa varṣāṇieight tracts of land
svargiṇāmof the living entities elevated to the heavenly planets by extraordinary pious activities

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

Sthāna · Planetary systems
How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 5.17
In this verse: “devotional service”
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.17
In this verse: “kingdom”
Kṛpā · Divine mercy
Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 5.17
In this verse: “favorably”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking material rewards, or learning to serve Kṛṣṇa simply to please Him?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and set the intention to please Kṛṣṇa rather than gain a material reward.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChoose Devotional Service Over Heavenly EnjoymentThis 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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