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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 18: The Prayers Offered to the Lord by the Residents of Jambūdvīpa
5.18.25.18.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.18.3

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.18.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अहो विचित्रं भगवद्विचेष्टितंघ्नन्तं जनोऽयं हि मिषन्न पश्यति । ध्यायन्नसद्यर्हि विकर्म सेवितुंनिर्हृत्य पुत्रं पितरं जिजीविषति ॥ ३ ॥

aho vicitraṁ bhagavad-viceṣṭitaṁ

ghnantaṁ jano ’yaṁ hi miṣan na paśyati

dhyāyann asad yarhi vikarma sevituṁ

nirhṛtya putraṁ pitaraṁ jijīviṣati

Translation

Alas! How wonderful it is that the foolish materialist does not heed the great danger of impending death! He knows that death will surely come, yet he is nevertheless callous and neglectful. If his father dies, he wants to enjoy his father’s property, and if his son dies, he wants to enjoy his son’s possessions as well. In either case, he heedlessly tries to enjoy material happiness with the acquired money.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Do Not Ignore the Reality of Death

  1. 1

    Materialistic life centers on eating, sleeping, sexual intercourse and defense while neglecting impending death. Even a relative’s death may become an occasion to seek enjoyment through inherited possessions.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Lord does not want anyone to act sinfully and urges restraint through good conscience. If someone persists, He permits that person to act at his own risk.

  3. 3

    Both father and son are awaiting death, yet attachment to possessions can hide this reality. When death comes, all their plans for material enjoyment are finished.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus Śukadeva Gosvāmī says, “How wonderful are these pastimes of material happiness transacted by the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead!”
  • Why does the Supreme Personality of Godhead permit sinful activities?
  • However, on this planet earth a son often dies before his father, and the materialistic father is pleased to enjoy the possessions of his son.

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

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The predominating ruler of Bhadrāśva-varṣa is Bhadraśravā. He and his many servants always worship the incarnation known as Lord Hayagrīva.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.18
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ahoalas
  2. vicitramwonderful
  3. bhagavat-viceṣṭitamthe pastimes of the Lord
  4. ghnantamdeath
  5. janaḥa person
  6. ayamthis
  7. hicertainly
  8. miṣanalthough seeing
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.18

    In this verse: “materialist”, “attachment”, “materialistic”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 5.18

    In this verse: “danger”, “death”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 5.18

    In this verse: “father”

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

Where might attachment to enjoyment be making me neglect my conscience or the reality of death?

Practice

Pause before one choice today and refrain from any action your conscience warns is wrong.

Live this todayDo Not Ignore the Reality of DeathThis 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 5.18.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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