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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 17: The Descent of the River Ganges
5.17.135.17.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.17.14

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.17.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नवस्वपि वर्षेषु भगवान्नारायणो महापुरुष: पुरुषाणां तदनुग्रहायात्मतत्त्वव्यूहेनात्मनाद्यापि सन्निधीयते ॥ १४ ॥

navasv api varṣeṣu bhagavān nārāyaṇo mahā-puruṣaḥ puruṣāṇāṁ tad-anugrahāyātma-tattva-vyūhenātmanādyāpi sannidhīyate.

Translation

To show mercy to His devotees in each of these nine tracts of land, the Supreme Personality of Godhead known as Nārāyaṇa expands Himself in His quadruple principles of Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha. In this way He remains near His devotees to accept their service.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Accepts Service Through His Deity

  1. 1

    Nārāyaṇa expands as Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha to show mercy to His devotees. He remains near them to accept their service.

  2. 2

    There is no difference between the arcā-vigraha, the temple Deity, and the original Supreme Personality of Godhead. Worship of the Deity brings the devotee directly in touch with Him.

  3. 3

    One should not regard the Deity as stone or metal, or the spiritual master as an ordinary human being. Avoiding offenses against both helps one advance in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • In this connection, Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura informs us that the demigods worship the Supreme Lord in His various Deity forms (arcā-vigraha) because except in the spiritual world, the Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be directly worshiped in person.
  • One should strictly follow this śāstric injunction and worship the Deity, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without offenses.
  • In some of the sātvata-tantras, there is a description of the nine varṣas and the predominating Deity worshiped in each: (1) Vāsudeva, (2) Saṅkarṣaṇa, (3) Pradyumna, (4) Aniruddha, (5) Nārāyaṇa, (6) Nṛsiṁha, (7) Hayagrīva, (8) Mahāvarāha, and (9) Brahmā.”

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 17: The Descent of the River Ganges

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

A different incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead distributes His mercy in each of the nine varṣas of Jambūdvīpa. In the Ilāvṛta-varṣa, Lord Śiva is the only male.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.17
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. navasuin the nine
  2. apicertainly
  3. varṣeṣutracts of land known as varṣas
  4. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. nārāyaṇaḥLord Viṣṇu
  6. mahā-puruṣaḥthe Supreme Person
  7. puruṣāṇāmunto His various devotees
  8. tat-anugrahāyato show His mercy
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 5.17

    In this verse: “devotees”, “worship”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 5.17

    In this verse: “principles”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 5.17

    In this verse: “mercy”

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

How would recognizing the Lord's presence in the Deity deepen my respect for worship?

Practice

Read the verse's translation slowly today, reflecting on the Lord's mercy in remaining near His devotees to accept their service.

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 5.17's connections

Live this todayThe Lord Accepts Service Through His DeityThis 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 5.17.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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