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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 5.19.28

Who is speaking and story frame

यद्यत्र न: स्वर्गसुखावशेषितं

स्विष्टस्य सूक्तस्य कृतस्य शोभनम् ।

तेनाजनाभे स्मृतिमज्जन्म न: स्याद्

वर्षे हरिर्यद्भ‍जतां शं तनोति ॥ २८ ॥

yady atra naḥ svarga-sukhāvaśeṣitaṁ

sviṣṭasya sūktasya kṛtasya śobhanam

tenājanābhe smṛtimaj janma naḥ syād

varṣe harir yad-bhajatāṁ śaṁ tanoti

Translation

We are now living in the heavenly planets, undoubtedly as a result of our having performed ritualistic ceremonies, pious activities and yajñas and having studied the Vedas. However, our lives here will one day be finished. We pray that at that time, if any merit remains from our pious activities, we may again take birth in Bhārata-varṣa as human beings able to remember the lotus feet of the Lord. The Lord is so kind that He personally comes to the land of Bhārata-varṣa and expands the good fortune of its people.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Devotion Rather Than Heavenly Enjoyment

  1. 1

    Life in the heavenly planets ends when the results of pious activities are exhausted. Even the demigods must then return to earth.

  2. 2

    The demigods pray for human birth in Bhārata-varṣa so they can remember the Lord’s lotus feet. They value its opportunity to cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness above heavenly enjoyment.

  3. 3

    Those born in Bhārata-varṣa should learn from the śāstras and guru and take advantage of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s mercy. By perfecting Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can go back home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Nevertheless, the demigods desire to come to the land of Bhārata-varṣa if even a small portion of the merits of their pious activities remains.
  • In other words, to take birth in Bhārata-varṣa, one must perform more pious activities than the demigods.
  • A foolish person may desire to be promoted to the heavenly planets as a result of his pious activities, but even the demigods from the heavenly planets want to come to Bhārata-varṣa and achieve bodies that may be very easily used to cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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 one who has taken birth in the land of Bhārata-varṣa as a human being does not take advantage of the opportunity for spiritual elevation, his position is certainly the most miserable. In the land known as Bhāratavarṣa, even if one is a sarva-kāma-bhakta, a devotee seeking the fulfillment of some material desire, he is freed from all material desires by his association with devotees, and ultimately he becomes a pure devotee and returns home, back to Godhead, without difficulty.
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. yadiif
  2. atrain this heavenly planet
  3. naḥof us
  4. svarga-sukha-avaśeṣitamwhatever remains after the enjoyment of heavenly happiness
  5. su-iṣṭasyaof a perfect sacrifice
  6. su-uktasyaof diligently studying the Vedic literature
  7. kṛtasyaof having performed a kind act
  8. śobhanamthe resultant actions
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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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 5.19

    In this verse: “mercy”

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

Do I value the opportunity to remember Kṛṣṇa more than temporary comfort?

Practice

Read a short passage from the supplied teaching today, then spend a moment remembering the Lord’s lotus feet.

Live this todaySeek Devotion Rather Than Heavenly EnjoymentThis 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 5.19.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.