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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
5.2.135.2.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.2.14

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

योऽसौ त्वया करसरोजहत: पतङ्गोदिक्षु भ्रमन् भ्रमत एजयतेऽक्षिणी मे । मुक्तं न ते स्मरसि वक्रजटावरूथंकष्टोऽनिलो हरति लम्पट एष नीवीम् ॥ १४ ॥

yo ’sau tvayā kara-saroja-hataḥ pataṅgo

dikṣu bhraman bhramata ejayate ’kṣiṇī me

muktaṁ na te smarasi vakra-jaṭā-varūthaṁ

kaṣṭo ’nilo harati lampaṭa eṣa nīvīm

Translation

My mind is already restless, and by playing with a ball, moving it all about with your lotuslike palm, you are also agitating my eyes. Your curling black hair is now scattered, but you are not attentive to arranging it. Are you not going to arrange it? Like a man attached to women, the most cunning wind is trying to take off your lower garment. Are you not mindful of it?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Restless Looking Increases Agitation

  1. 1

    Pūrvacitti played with a ball in her lotuslike palm. The ball appeared like another lotus flower held in her hand.

  2. 2

    Her movements loosened her hair and the belt holding her cloth. She paid no attention to arranging her hair or fixing her dress.

  3. 3

    Āgnīdhra tried to see her uncovered beauty. His eyes became very agitated by her movements, while his mind was already restless.

Key points from the purport
  • The girl Pūrvacitti was playing with a ball in her hand, and the ball seemed like nothing but another lotus flower captured by her lotuslike palm.
  • Because of her movements, her hair was loose, and the belt holding her cloth was giving way, as if the cunning wind were trying to make her naked.
  • As Āgnīdhra tried to see the girl’s naked beauty, his eyes were very agitated by her movements.

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. yaḥwhich
  2. asauthat
  3. tvayāby you
  4. kara-sarojawith the lotus palm
  5. hataḥstruck
  6. pataṅgaḥthe ball
  7. dikṣuin all directions
  8. bhramanmoving
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attached”

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

Does what I choose to keep watching make my mind more restless?

Practice

Step away from one sight today that is increasing your agitation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRestless Looking Increases AgitationThis 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 5.2.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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