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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 23: The Śiśumāra Planetary Systems
5.23.85.24.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.23.9

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.23.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ग्रहर्क्षतारामयमाधिदैविकं

पापापहं मन्त्रकृतां त्रिकालम् ।

नमस्यत: स्मरतो वा त्रिकालं

नश्येत तत्कालजमाशु पापम् ॥ ९ ॥

graharkṣatārāmayam ādhidaivikaṁ

pāpāpahaṁ mantra-kṛtāṁ tri-kālam

namasyataḥ smarato vā tri-kālaṁ

naśyeta tat-kālajam āśu pāpam

Translation

The body of the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu, which forms the Śiśumāra-cakra, is the resting place of all the demigods and all the stars and planets. One who chants this mantra to worship that Supreme Person three times a day — morning, noon and evening — will surely be freed from all sinful reactions. If one simply offers his obeisances to this form or remembers this form three times a day, all his recent sinful activities will be destroyed.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Regular Remembrance Frees One From Sinful Reactions

  1. 1

    The Śiśumāra-cakra is the body of the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu. It is the resting place of all the demigods, stars and planets.

  2. 2

    Worshiping the Supreme Person with the mantra morning, noon and evening frees one from sinful reactions. The translation also describes the purifying effect of offering obeisances or remembering this form three times daily.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura summarizes this arrangement as the virāṭ-rūpa, or viśva-rūpa, the Lord’s external body. He emphasizes worshiping the Lord through meditation three times a day.

Key points from the purport
  • Summarizing the entire description of the planetary systems of the universe, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says that one who is able to meditate upon this arrangement as the virāṭ-rūpa, or viśva-rūpa, the external body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and worship Him three times a day by meditation will always be free from all sinful reactions.
  • Thus the distance from the sun to Satyaloka is 233,800,000 yojanas, or 1,870,400,000 miles.
  • Thus the total diameter of the universe is approximately 500,000,000 yojanas, or 4,000,000,000 miles.

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

Smallness → Awe and reverence. A vast cosmos changes the reader's perspective.

Chapters 15–25 of Canto 5: The cosmic regions and divine worship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 23: The Śiśumāra Planetary Systems

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Other stars are also fixed on different sides of the Śiśumāra planetary system according to the calculations of Vedic astronomers. To concentrate their minds, yogīs worship the Śiśumāra planetary system, which is technically known as the kuṇḍalini-cakra.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.23
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. graha-ṛkṣa-tārā-mayamconsisting of all the planets and stars
  2. ādhidaivikamthe leader of all the demigods
  3. pāpa-apahamthe killer of sinful reactions
  4. mantra-kṛtāmof those who chant the mantra mentioned above
  5. tri-kālamthree times
  6. namasyataḥoffering obeisances
  7. smarataḥmeditating
  8. vāor
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 5.23

    In this verse: “worship”, “worshiping”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 5.23

    In this verse: “sinful”, “purifying”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 5.23

    In this verse: “chants”

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

What would help me make remembrance and worship of the Lord a regular part of my day?

Practice

Set three reminders labeled morning, noon and evening to remember the Śiśumāra-cakra and offer respectful obeisances.

Live this todayRegular Remembrance Frees One From Sinful ReactionsThis 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.

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