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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 5.2.10

Who is speaking and story frame

वाचं परं चरणपञ्जरतित्तिरीणांब्रह्मन्नरूपमुखरां श‍ृणवाम तुभ्यम् । लब्धा कदम्बरुचिरङ्कविटङ्कबिम्बेयस्यामलातपरिधि: क्‍व च वल्कलं ते ॥ १० ॥

vācaṁ paraṁ caraṇa-pañjara-tittirīṇāṁ

brahmann arūpa-mukharāṁ śṛṇavāma tubhyam

labdhā kadamba-rucir aṅka-viṭaṅka-bimbe

yasyām alāta-paridhiḥ kva ca valkalaṁ te

Translation

O brāhmaṇa, I can simply hear the tinkling of your ankle bells. Within those bells, tittiri birds seem to be chirping among themselves. Although I do not see their forms, I can hear how they are chirping. When I look at your beautiful circular hips, I see they are the lovely color of kadamba flowers, and your waist is encircled by a belt of burning cinders. Indeed, you seem to have forgotten to dress yourself.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Lust Distorts What We See

  1. 1

    Āgnīdhra gazed at Pūrvacitti’s attractive features with lusty desires. His attention was especially drawn to her hips and waist.

  2. 2

    Her fine yellow silk made her hips appear like kadamba flowers. Her belt made her waist seem encircled by burning cinders.

  3. 3

    Pūrvacitti was fully dressed. Yet Āgnīdhra had become so lusty that he asked why she had come naked.

Key points from the purport
  • With lusty desires to see Pūrvacitti, Āgnīdhra especially gazed upon the girl’s attractive hips and waist.
  • Pūrvacitti was dressed in fine yellow silk, and therefore her hips looked like kadamba flowers.
  • Because of her belt, her waist seemed to be encircled by burning cinders.

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:

The girl’s actions, expressions, smile, sweet words and moving eyes were fascinating to him. Āgnīdhra was expert in flattery.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.2
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vācamthe resounding vibration
  2. paramonly
  3. caraṇa-pañjaraof the ankle bells
  4. tittirīṇāmof the tittiri birds
  5. brahmanO brāhmaṇa
  6. arūpawithout form
  7. mukharāmable to be very distinctly heard
  8. śṛṇavāmaI hear
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 5.2

    In this verse: “lovely”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.2

    In this verse: “lusty”

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

When has a strong desire made me overlook what was actually before me?

Practice

Before acting on one strong desire today, separate what you actually observe from what you imagine.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLust Distorts What We SeeThis 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 5.2.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.