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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 25: The Glories of Lord Ananta
5.25.135.25.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.25.14

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.25.7inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एता ह्येवेह नृभिरुपगन्तव्या गतयो यथाकर्मविनिर्मिता यथोपदेशमनुवर्णिता: कामान् कामयमानै: ॥ १४ ॥

etā hy eveha nṛbhir upagantavyā gatayo yathā-karma-vinirmitā yathopadeśam anuvarṇitāḥ kāmān kāmayamānaiḥ.

Translation

My dear King, as I heard of it from my spiritual master, I have fully described to you the creation of this material world according to the fruitive activities and desires of the conditioned souls. Those conditioned souls, who are full of material desires, achieve various situations in different planetary systems, and in this way they live within this material creation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Shelter Beyond Material Desires

  1. 1

    The material creation is described as heard from the spiritual master. Conditioned souls attain different situations in different planetary systems according to their fruitive activities and desires.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura describes material life as a deep ocean of nescience. He sees no way out except taking shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet.

  3. 3

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu prays as the Lord’s eternal servant, fallen into the ocean of nescience. He asks the Lord to save him from materialistic life.

Key points from the purport
  • Now I can also see that there is no other way to get out of it than to take shelter of Your lotus feet.”
  • Somehow or other, I have fallen into this ocean of nescience.
  • Kindly, therefore, save me from this horrible condition of materialistic life.”

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 25: The Glories of Lord Ananta

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

There is no end to His strength, and no one can fully describe Him, even with countless mouths. Therefore He is called Ananta (unlimited).
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.25
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etāḥall these
  2. hiindeed
  3. evacertainly
  4. ihain this universe
  5. nṛbhiḥby all living entities
  6. upagantavyāḥachievable
  7. gatayaḥdestinations
  8. yathā-karmaaccording to one’s past activities
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 5.25

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 5.25

    In this verse: “heard”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.25

    In this verse: “king”

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

Which material desire can I recognize today as a reason to seek the Lord’s shelter?

Practice

Offer a short prayer asking the Lord for shelter and help in living as His servant.

Live this todaySeek Shelter Beyond Material DesiresThis 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 5.25.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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