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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 18: The Prayers Offered to the Lord by the Residents of Jambūdvīpa

5.18.21 5.18.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.18.22

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.18.15inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

मत्प्राप्तयेऽजेशसुरासुरादय-

स्तप्यन्त उग्रं तप ऐन्द्रियेधिय: ।

ऋते भवत्पादपरायणान्न मां

विन्दन्त्यहं त्वद्‌धृदया यतोऽजित ॥ २२ ॥

mat-prāptaye ’jeśa-surāsurādayas

tapyanta ugraṁ tapa aindriye dhiyaḥ

ṛte bhavat-pāda-parāyaṇān na māṁ

vindanty ahaṁ tvad-dhṛdayā yato ’jita

Translation

O supreme unconquerable Lord, when they become absorbed in thoughts of material enjoyment, Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, as well as other demigods and demons, undergo severe penances and austerities to receive my benedictions. But I do not favor anyone, however great he may be, unless he is always engaged in the service of Your lotus feet. Because I always keep You within my heart, I cannot favor anyone but a devotee.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Mercy Through Service, Not Wealth

1
Lakṣmīdevī does not bestow her favor on a materialistic person. She favors those who are devoted to serving the Supreme Lord’s lotus feet.
2
Material benefits obtained from Durgādevī are temporary and bring māyā-sukha, illusory happiness. The extraordinary opulences received by devotees can instead be direct gifts of the goddess of fortune.
3
The special mercy of the power to preach is given to a devotee who wants only to serve the spiritual master. Seeking service rather than material gain is the essential distinction.

Key points from the purport

In this verse the goddess of fortune, Lakṣmīdevī, clearly states that she does not bestow her favor on any materialistic person.
The material opulences a person obtains by offering prayers to the goddess Durgā are temporary.
As a result, instead of winning the favor of the real goddess of fortune, Rāvaṇa and his whole family were vanquished by the power of Durgādevī (sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-sādhana-śaktir ekā).

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 5.18.22 quotesBG 7.23

As described in Bhagavad-gītā (7.23), antavat tu phalaṁ teṣāṁ tad bhavaty alpa-medhasām: men of meager intelligence desire temporary happiness.

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

Chapter 18: The Prayers Offered to the Lord by the Residents of Jambūdvīpa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Following in the footsteps of Prahlāda Mahārāja, the inhabitants of Hari-varṣa always worship Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva to receive from Him the benediction of being engaged in His loving service. In the tract of land known as Ketumāla-varṣa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Lord Hṛṣīkeśa) appears in the form of Cupid.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 5.18

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

mat-prāptayeto obtain my mercy
ajaLord Brahmā
īśaLord Śiva
surathe other demigods, headed by King Indra, Candra and Varuṇa
asura-ādayaḥas well as the demons
tapyanteundergo
ugramsevere
tapaḥausterity

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
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.18
In this verse: “material”, “māyā-sukha”, “materialistic”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 5.18
In this verse: “devotee”, “devotees”
Kṛpā · Divine mercy
Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 5.18
In this verse: “favor”, “mercy”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking the Lord’s service, or mainly hoping for material benefits?

Practice

Today, offer one prayer asking for an opportunity to serve rather than for a material benefit.

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 5.18's connections

Live this todaySeek Mercy Through Service, Not WealthThis 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 5.18.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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