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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 2: The Activities of Mahārāja Āgnīdhra
5.1.415.2.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.2.1

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.2.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

एवं पितरि सम्प्रवृत्ते तदनुशासने वर्तमान आग्नीध्रो जम्बूद्वीपौकस: प्रजा औरसवद्धर्मावेक्षमाण: पर्यगोपायत् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

evaṁ pitari sampravṛtte tad-anuśāsane vartamāna āgnīdhro jambūdvīpaukasaḥ prajā aurasavad dharmāvekṣamāṇaḥ paryagopāyat.

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: After his father, Mahārāja Priyavrata, departed to follow the path of spiritual life by undergoing austerities, King Āgnīdhra completely obeyed his order. Strictly observing the principles of religion, he gave full protection to the inhabitants of Jambūdvīpa as if they were his own begotten sons.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Leadership Means Protection and Spiritual Care

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Āgnīdhra obeyed his father’s instruction and protected the inhabitants of Jambūdvīpa as his own children. He ruled strictly according to religious principles.

  2. 2

    Dharma means principles given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The purport explains that religious duties begin with varṇāśrama-dharma, organized according to people’s qualities and activities.

  3. 3

    A leader should be a genuine well-wisher, responsible for the citizens’ spiritual welfare rather than merely collecting taxes. The purport presents the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement as the hope for the actual welfare of human society.

Key points from the purport
  • Following the instruction of his father, Mahārāja Priyavrata, Mahārāja Āgnīdhra ruled the inhabitants of Jambūdvīpa according to religious principles.
  • How he ruled the citizens is also described here — dharmāvekṣamāṇaḥ, strictly according to religious principles.
  • These are religious principles, and it is the duty of the head of state to see that his citizens strictly follow them.

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

Responsibility → Renunciation. Leadership is set beside the renounced ideal.

Chapters 1–6 of Canto 5: Priyavrata and Ṛṣabhadeva. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: The Activities of Mahārāja Āgnīdhra

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When Mahārāja Priyavrata went off for spiritual realization, his son Āgnīdhra became the ruler of Jambūdvīpa, in accordance with Mahārāja Priyavrata’s instructions, and maintained its residents with the same affection a father feels for his sons. Once Mahārāja Āgnīdhra desired to have a son, and therefore he entered a cave of Mandara Mountain to practice austerity.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī
  2. uvācasaid
  3. evamthus
  4. pitariwhen his father
  5. sampravṛttetook to the path of liberation
  6. tat-anuśāsaneaccording to his order
  7. vartamānaḥsituated
  8. āgnīdhraḥKing Āgnīdhra
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 5.2

    In this verse: “religion”, “principles”, “religious”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 5.2

    In this verse: “father”, “father’s”, “children”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.2

    In this verse: “king”, “citizens’”

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

How can I care for those who depend on me as a genuine well-wisher?

Practice

Give one person in your care practical help today, keeping their spiritual welfare in mind.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLeadership Means Protection and Spiritual CareThis 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 5.2.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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