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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
5.17.195.17.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.17.20

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

असद्‍दृशो य: प्रतिभाति मायया क्षीबेव मध्वासवताम्रलोचन: । न नागवध्वोऽर्हण ईशिरे ह्रियायत्पादयो: स्पर्शनधर्षितेन्द्रिया: ॥ २० ॥

asad-dṛśo yaḥ pratibhāti māyayā

kṣībeva madhv-āsava-tāmra-locanaḥ

na nāga-vadhvo ’rhaṇa īśire hriyā

yat-pādayoḥ sparśana-dharṣitendriyāḥ

Translation

For persons with impure vision, the Supreme Lord’s eyes appear like those of someone who indiscriminately drinks intoxicating beverages. Thus bewildered, such unintelligent persons become angry at the Supreme Lord, and due to their angry mood the Lord Himself appears angry and very fearful. However, this is an illusion. When the wives of the serpent demon were agitated by the touch of the Lord’s lotus feet, due to shyness they could proceed no further in their worship of Him. Yet the Lord remained unagitated by their touch, for He is equipoised in all circumstances. Therefore who will not worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Take Shelter of the Equipoised Lord

  1. 1

    A person who remains unagitated even when there is cause for agitation is called dhīra, or equipoised. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is always transcendental and is never agitated by anything.

  2. 2

    Impure vision makes the Lord appear angry and fearful, but this is an illusion. The Lord remained unagitated even when the wives of the serpent demon became agitated by touching His lotus feet.

  3. 3

    Anyone who wants to become dhīra must take shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet. Prahlāda Mahārāja remained calm before the fierce form of Nṛsiṁhadeva, even while others were frightened.

Key points from the purport
  • Anyone who remains unagitated, even in the presence of cause for agitation, is called dhīra, or equipoised.
  • The Supreme Personality of Godhead, being always in a transcendental position, is never agitated by anything.
  • Therefore someone who wants to become dhīra must take shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord.

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 5.17.20 quotesBG 2.13

In Bhagavad-gītā (2.13) Kṛṣṇa says, dhīras tatra na muhyati: a person who is equipoised in all circumstances is never bewildered.

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

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. asat-dṛśaḥfor a person with polluted vision
  2. yaḥwho
  3. pratibhātiappears
  4. māyayāthe influence of māyā
  5. kṣībaḥone who is inebriated or angry
  6. ivalike
  7. madhuby honey
  8. āsavaand liquor
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “illusion”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 5.17

    In this verse: “fearful”

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 I feel agitated, how might remembering the Lord’s steady, transcendental nature help me seek His shelter?

Practice

During one unsettled moment today, pause and offer a short prayer asking the Lord for shelter at His lotus feet.

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 todayTake Shelter of the Equipoised 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 5.17.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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