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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
5.17.185.17.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.17.19

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.17.15inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

न यस्य मायागुणचित्तवृत्तिभि-र्निरीक्षतो ह्यण्वपि द‍ृष्टिरज्यते । ईशे यथा नोऽजितमन्युरंहसांकस्तं न मन्येत जिगीषुरात्मन: ॥ १९ ॥

na yasya māyā-guṇa-citta-vṛttibhir

nirīkṣato hy aṇv api dṛṣṭir ajyate

īśe yathā no ’jita-manyu-raṁhasāṁ

kas taṁ na manyeta jigīṣur ātmanaḥ

Translation

We cannot control the force of our anger. Therefore when we look at material things, we cannot avoid feeling attraction or repulsion for them. But the Supreme Lord is never affected in this way. Although He glances over the material world for the purpose of creating, maintaining and destroying it, He is not affected, even to the slightest degree. Therefore, one who desires to conquer the force of the senses must take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord. Then he will be victorious.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Take Shelter to Conquer the Senses

  1. 1

    Uncontrolled anger leaves us subject to attraction and repulsion toward material things. The Supreme Lord is never affected in this way.

  2. 2

    The Lord creates by glancing over material energy, yet its modes do not affect Him. Even when He appears in the material world, He remains eternally transcendental.

  3. 3

    Anyone who wants protection from the modes of material nature must take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Shelter at His lotus feet enables one to conquer the force of the senses.

Key points from the purport
  • Although creation takes place by His glancing over the material energy, He is not affected by the modes of material nature.
  • Because of His eternally transcendental position, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears in this material world, the modes of material nature cannot affect Him.
  • Therefore the Supreme Lord is called Transcendence, and anyone who wants to be secure from the influence of the modes of material nature must take shelter of Him.

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:

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. nanever
  2. yasyawhose
  3. māyāof the illusory energy
  4. guṇain the qualities
  5. cittaof the heart
  6. vṛttibhiḥby the activities (thinking, feeling and willing)
  7. nirīkṣataḥof Him who is glancing
  8. hicertainly
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 5.17

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protection”

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

When anger or attraction becomes strong, do I remember to seek the Lord's shelter?

Practice

When you notice anger or a strong sensory urge today, pause and ask the Supreme Lord for shelter before acting.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTake Shelter to Conquer the SensesThis 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 5.17.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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