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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
5.17.175.17.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.17.18

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.17.15inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

भजे भजन्यारणपादपङ्कजंभगस्य कृत्‍स्‍नस्य परं परायणम् । भक्तेष्वलं भावितभूतभावनंभवापहं त्वा भवभावमीश्वरम् ॥ १८ ॥

bhaje bhajanyāraṇa-pāda-paṅkajaṁ

bhagasya kṛtsnasya paraṁ parāyaṇam

bhakteṣv alaṁ bhāvita-bhūta-bhāvanaṁ

bhavāpahaṁ tvā bhava-bhāvam īśvaram

Translation

O my Lord, You are the only worshipable person, for You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the reservoir of all opulences. Your secure lotus feet are the only source of protection for all Your devotees, whom You satisfy by manifesting Yourself in various forms. O my Lord, You deliver Your devotees from the clutches of material existence. Nondevotees, however, remain entangled in material existence by Your will. Kindly accept me as Your eternal servant.

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.

Seek Shelter as the Lord's Eternal Servant

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the only worshipable person and the reservoir of all opulences.

  2. 2

    His secure lotus feet protect His devotees. He manifests various forms to satisfy them.

  3. 3

    The Lord delivers His devotees from material existence, while nondevotees remain entangled by His will. The prayer concludes with the request to be accepted as His eternal servant.

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:

Lord Śiva worships Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa by offering various prayers, one of which is as follows: “My dear Lord, please liberate all Your devotees from material life and bind all the nondevotees to the material world. Without Your mercy, no one can be released from the bondage of material existence.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhajeI worship
  2. bhajanyaO worshipable Lord
  3. araṇa-pāda-paṅkajamwhose lotus feet protect His devotees from all fearful situations
  4. bhagasyaof opulences
  5. kṛtsnasyaof all different varieties (wealth, fame, strength, knowledge, beauty and renunciation)
  6. paramthe best
  7. parāyaṇamthe ultimate shelter
  8. bhakteṣuto the devotees
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”, “worshipable”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 5.17

    In this verse: “protection”, “protect”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.17

    In this verse: “material”

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 asking to become the Lord's eternal servant mean for my priorities?

Practice

Offer the verse's simple prayer today: “Kindly accept me as Your eternal servant.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek Shelter as the Lord's Eternal ServantThis 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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