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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 5.19.14

Who is speaking and story frame

यथैहिकामुष्मिककामलम्पट:

सुतेषु दारेषु धनेषु चिन्तयन् ।

शङ्केत विद्वान् कुकलेवरात्ययाद्

यस्तस्य यत्न: श्रम एव केवलम् ॥ १४ ॥

yathaihikāmuṣmika-kāma-lampaṭaḥ

suteṣu dāreṣu dhaneṣu cintayan

śaṅketa vidvān kukalevarātyayād

yas tasya yatnaḥ śrama eva kevalam

Translation

Materialists are generally very attached to their present bodily comforts and to the bodily comforts they expect in the future. Therefore they are always absorbed in thoughts of their wives, children and wealth and are afraid of giving up their bodies, which are full of stool and urine. If a person engaged in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, however, is also afraid of giving up his body, what is the use of his having labored to study the śāstras? It was simply a waste of time.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve Kṛṣṇa Without Material Attachment

  1. 1

    Attachment to bodily comforts, family and wealth makes a materialist unwilling to give up the body. Anxiety about those left behind absorbs the mind at death.

  2. 2

    The secret of success in yoga is freedom from bodily attachments. Studying Vedic literature and practicing bhakti-yoga must lead beyond fear of losing the body.

  3. 3

    A person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness must fully discharge devotional duties without material attachment. The purport states that liberation is then guaranteed.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore by practicing the mystic yoga system one must become detached from bodily relationships.
  • If despite practicing bhakti-yoga and studying all the Vedic literature, one is afraid of giving up his bad body, which is the cause of all his suffering, what is the use of his attempts to advance in spiritual life?
  • The secret of success in practicing yoga is to become free from bodily attachments.

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:

If those who live in Bhārata-varṣa rigidly follow the principles of varṇāśrama-dharma and develop their dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness, they need not return to this material world after death. Any place where one cannot hear about the Supreme Personality of Godhead from realized souls, even if it be Brahmaloka, is not very congenial to the living entity.
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. yathāas
  2. aihikain the present life
  3. amuṣmikain the expected future life
  4. kāma-lampaṭaḥa person who is very attached to lusty desires for bodily enjoyment
  5. suteṣuchildren
  6. dāreṣuwife
  7. dhaneṣuwealth
  8. cintayanthinking about
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.19

    In this verse: “attached”, “wealth”, “materialists”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 5.19

    In this verse: “afraid”, “fear”, “death”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional”, “bhakti-yoga”

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

Is my spiritual study helping me serve with less attachment to bodily comfort?

Practice

Complete one devotional duty today without delaying it for a nonessential bodily comfort.

Live this todayServe Kṛṣṇa Without Material AttachmentThis 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 5.19.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.