1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 5 · The Creative Impetus · 26 chapters

1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
5.2.115.2.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.2.12

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Prince mistakenlysince 5.2.7inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

लोकं प्रदर्शय सुहृत्तम तावकं मेयत्रत्य इत्थमुरसावयवावपूर्वौ । अस्मद्विधस्य मनउन्नयनौ बिभर्तिबह्वद्भ‍ुतं सरसराससुधादि वक्त्रे ॥ १२ ॥

lokaṁ pradarśaya suhṛttama tāvakaṁ me

yatratya ittham urasāvayavāv apūrvau

asmad-vidhasya mana-unnayanau bibharti

bahv adbhutaṁ sarasa-rāsa-sudhādi vaktre

Translation

O best friend, will you kindly show me the place where you reside? I cannot imagine how the residents of that place have gotten such wonderful bodily features as your raised breasts, which agitate the mind and eyes of a person like me who sees them. Judging by the sweet speech and kind smiles of those residents, I think that their mouths must contain nectar.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Bewilderment Shapes Āgnīdhra’s Wishes

  1. 1

    Still bewildered, Āgnīdhra wanted to visit the place from which he thought the brāhmaṇa boy had come. He imagined that the residents’ attractive features resulted from severe austerities.

  2. 2

    He addressed Pūrvacitti as suhṛttama, the best friend. He hoped this would persuade her to take him there.

  3. 3

    He was attracted not only by her bodily features but also by her sweet speech. Nectar seemed to come from her mouth, increasing his wonder.

Key points from the purport
  • Still bewildered, Āgnīdhra wanted to see the place from which the brāhmaṇa boy had come, where the men had such raised breasts.
  • Not only was Āgnīdhra captivated by the girl’s raised breasts; he was also attracted by her sweet speech.
  • Nectar seemed to emanate from her mouth, and therefore he was increasingly surprised.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. lokamresidential place
  2. pradarśayaplease show
  3. suhṛt-tamaO best of friends
  4. tāvakamyour
  5. meunto me
  6. yatratyaḥa person born wherein
  7. itthamlike this
  8. urasāby the chest
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 5.2

    In this verse: “kindly”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 5.2

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

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

    In this verse: “sweet”

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

Do I sometimes use pleasing words mainly to obtain something I desire?

Practice

Before making a request today, pause and honestly identify your motive.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBewilderment Shapes Āgnīdhra’s WishesThis 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 5.2.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories