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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.19.10

Who is speaking and story frame

तं भगवान्नारदो वर्णाश्रमवतीभिर्भारतीभि: प्रजाभिर्भगवत्प्रोक्ताभ्यां साङ्ख्ययोगाभ्यां भगवदनुभावोपवर्णनं सावर्णेरुपदेक्ष्यमाण: परमभक्तिभावेनोपसरति इदं चाभिगृणाति ॥ १० ॥

taṁ bhagavān nārado varṇāśramavatībhir bhāratībhiḥ prajābhir bhagavat-proktābhyāṁ sāṅkhya-yogābhyāṁ bhagavad-anubhāvopavarṇanaṁ sāvarṇer upadekṣyamāṇaḥ parama-bhakti-bhāvenopasarati idaṁ cābhigṛṇāti.

Translation

In his own book, known as Nārada Pañcarātra, Bhagavān Nārada has very vividly described how to work to achieve the ultimate goal of life — devotion — through knowledge and through execution of the mystic yoga system. He has also described the glories of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The great sage Nārada instructed the tenets of this transcendental literature to Sāvarṇi Manu in order to teach those inhabitants of Bhārata-varṣa who strictly follow the principles of varṇāśrama-dharma how to achieve the devotional service of the Lord. Thus Nārada Muni, along with the other inhabitants of Bhārata-varṣa, always engages in the service of Nara-Nārāyaṇa, and he chants as follows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Is Life’s Ultimate Goal

  1. 1

    Nārada Pañcarātra describes how knowledge and mystic yoga lead to the ultimate goal of life: devotion. Nārada teaches this goal and continually serves Nara-Nārāyaṇa.

  2. 2

    The purport urges people to use the spiritual opportunity offered by Bhārata-varṣa. It emphasizes following varṇāśrama-dharma, with its four social orders and four orders of spiritual life.

  3. 3

    The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is meant for all people of the world, not only the inhabitants of Bhārata-varṣa. It follows pañcarātrika-vidhi and bhāgavata-vidhi together so that people can make their lives successful.

Key points from the purport
  • People should take advantage of the opportunity afforded by Bhārata-varṣa, and this is especially so for those who are following the principles of varṇāśrama-dharma.
  • Therefore, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement has been started not only for the inhabitants of Bhārata-varṣa but for all the people of the world, as announced by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
  • The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement follows the process of pañcarātrika-vidhi and that of bhāgavata-vidhi simultaneously, so that people can take advantage of the movement and make their lives successful.

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 19: A Description of the Island of Jambūdvīpa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Sārvaṇi Manu and the inhabitants of Bhārata-varṣa engage in devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the origin of creation, maintenance and annihilation and who is always worshiped by self-realized souls.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.19
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamHim (Nara-Nārāyaṇa)
  2. bhagavānthe most powerful saintly person
  3. nāradaḥthe great sage Nārada
  4. varṇa-āśrama-vatībhiḥby followers of the institution of the four varṇas and four āśramas
  5. bhāratībhiḥof the land known as Bhārata-varṣa (India)
  6. prajābhiḥwho are the inhabitants
  7. bhagavat-proktābhyāmwhich was stated by the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. sāṅkhyaby the sāṅkhya-yoga system (the analytical study of material conditions)
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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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 5.19

    In this verse: “principles”, “varṇāśrama-dharma”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 5.19

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotion”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 5.19

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Is my spiritual learning helping me move toward devotional service?

Practice

Before studying today, state your purpose simply: “I want this learning to help me serve the Lord.”

Live this todayDevotional Service Is Life’s Ultimate GoalThis 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 5.19.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.