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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 5.2.11

Who is speaking and story frame

किं सम्भृतं रुचिरयोर्द्विज श‍ृङ्गयोस्तेमध्ये कृशो वहसि यत्र द‍ृशि: श्रिता मे । पङ्कोऽरुण: सुरभीरात्मविषाण ईद‍ृग्येनाश्रमं सुभग मे सुरभीकरोषि ॥ ११ ॥

kiṁ sambhṛtaṁ rucirayor dvija śṛṅgayos te

madhye kṛśo vahasi yatra dṛśiḥ śritā me

paṅko ’ruṇaḥ surabhīr ātma-viṣāṇa īdṛg

yenāśramaṁ subhaga me surabhī-karoṣi

Translation

Āgnīdhra then praised Pūrvacitti’s raised breasts. He said: My dear brāhmaṇa your waist is very thin, yet with great difficulty you are carefully carrying two horns, to which my eyes have become attracted. What is filling those two beautiful horns? You seem to have spread fragrant red powder upon them, powder that is like the rising morning sun. O most fortunate one, I beg to inquire where you have gotten this fragrant powder that is perfuming my āśrama, my place of residence.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Captivated Eyes Feed Bewildered Thoughts

  1. 1

    Āgnīdhra became almost mad upon seeing Pūrvacitti’s breasts. Yet, because of his austerity, he still did not distinguish whether she was a boy or a girl.

  2. 2

    Addressing her as a brāhmaṇa, he imagined her breasts to be covered horns containing valuables. His attracted eyes led him to increasingly bewildered questions.

  3. 3

    The fragrance of kuṅkuma perfumed his āśrama. Still considering Pūrvacitti a boy, he thought this visitor must be a most fortunate muni.

Key points from the purport
  • Because the boy’s waist was thin, Āgnīdhra thought, he was carrying the horns with great difficulty, and therefore they must be filled with something very valuable.
  • Āgnīdhra, his eyes attracted, contemplated the heavy breasts on the girl’s thin body and imagined how her back must sustain them.
  • Āgnīdhra imagined that her raised breasts were two horns she had covered with cloth so that others would not see the valuables within 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:

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. kimwhat
  2. sambhṛtamfilled
  3. rucirayoḥvery beautiful
  4. dvijaO brāhmaṇa
  5. śṛṅgayoḥwithin two horns
  6. teyour
  7. madhyein the middle
  8. kṛśaḥthin
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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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “āśrama”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 5.2

    In this verse: “inquire”

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 does dwelling on an attractive sight shape the thoughts that follow?

Practice

If you catch yourself dwelling on someone’s body today, turn your gaze away rather than feeding further speculation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCaptivated Eyes Feed Bewildered ThoughtsThis 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 5.2.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.