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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
5.18.35.18.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.18.4

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.18.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

वदन्ति विश्वं कवय: स्म नश्वरंपश्यन्ति चाध्यात्मविदो विपश्चित: । तथापि मुह्यन्ति तवाज माययासुविस्मितं कृत्यमजं नतोऽस्मि तम् ॥ ४ ॥

vadanti viśvaṁ kavayaḥ sma naśvaraṁ

paśyanti cādhyātmavido vipaścitaḥ

tathāpi muhyanti tavāja māyayā

suvismitaṁ kṛtyam ajaṁ nato ’smi tam

Translation

O unborn one, learned Vedic scholars who are advanced in spiritual knowledge certainly know that this material world is perishable, as do other logicians and philosophers. In trance they realize the factual position of this world, and they preach the truth as well. Yet even they are sometimes bewildered by Your illusory energy. This is Your own wonderful pastime. Therefore, I can understand that Your illusory energy is very wonderful, and I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Stay Secure Through Attentive Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Even advanced scholars who understand that this world is perishable can become bewildered by the Lord’s illusory energy. Thinking that the material body is oneself and its relationships are one’s possessions is illusion.

  2. 2

    Lord Kṛṣṇa says that only those who surrender unto Him can overcome material energy. No one should assume that spiritual knowledge makes them immune to māyā.

  3. 3

    Theoretical knowledge alone cannot protect us; we must firmly adhere to the Lord’s lotus feet in devotional service. Carefully following regulative principles keeps us steady, rather than taking advantage of the Lord’s forgiveness.

Key points from the purport
  • Not only does the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead act on the conditioned soul within this material world, but sometimes it also acts on the most advanced learned scholars, who factually know the constitutional position of this material world through realization.
  • A liberated soul is a person who has sufficient knowledge of this material world and is therefore unattached to the bodily conception of life.
  • But because of association with the modes of material nature for a very long time, even liberated souls sometimes become captivated by the illusory energy due to inattentiveness in the transcendental position.

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 5.18.4 quotesBG 7.14

Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (7.14), mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te: “Only those who surrender unto Me can overcome the influence of the material energy.”

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

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

At the end of each kalpa, when the demon Ajñāna steals the Vedic knowledge, Lord Hayagrīva appears and preserves it. Then He delivers it to Lord Brahmā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vadantithey say authoritatively
  2. viśvamthe entire material creation
  3. kavayaḥgreat learned sages
  4. smacertainly
  5. naśvaramperishable
  6. paśyantithey see in trance
  7. caalso
  8. adhyātma-vidaḥwho have realized spiritual knowledge
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 5.18

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “philosophers”, “understand”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “illusion”, “māyā”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 5.18

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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 could greater attention help me remain steady in devotional service?

Practice

Choose one devotional commitment you already follow and carry it out carefully today, without distraction.

5

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 todayStay Secure Through Attentive Devotional ServiceThis 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 5.18.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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