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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
5.17.165.17.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.17.17

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.17.15inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीभगवानुवाच

ॐ नमो भगवते महापुरुषाय सर्वगुणसङ्ख्यानायानन्तायाव्यक्ताय नम इति ॥ १७ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

oṁ namo bhagavate mahā-puruṣāya sarva-guṇa-saṅkhyānāyānantāyāvyaktāya nama iti.

Translation

The most powerful Lord Śiva says: O Supreme Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You in Your expansion as Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa. You are the reservoir of all transcendental qualities. Although You are unlimited, You remain unmanifest to the nondevotees.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offer Respect to the Unlimited Lord

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva offers respectful obeisances to the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His expansion as Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa.

  2. 2

    The Lord is the reservoir of all transcendental qualities. His greatness is unlimited.

  3. 3

    Although unlimited, the Lord remains unmanifest to nondevotees. Lord Śiva approaches Him with reverence.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe most powerful Lord Śiva says
  2. om namo bhagavateO Supreme Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You
  3. mahā-puruṣāyawho are the Supreme Person
  4. sarva-guṇa-saṅkhyānāyathe reservoir of all transcendental qualities
  5. anantāyathe unlimited
  6. avyaktāyanot manifested within the material world
  7. namaḥmy respectful obeisances
  8. itithus
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

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 attitude do I bring when approaching the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Read Lord Śiva's prayer aloud once, giving careful attention to its respectful mood.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOffer Respect to the Unlimited LordThis 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 5.17.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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