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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 5.26.30

Who is speaking and story frame

अथ च यस्त्विह वा आत्मसम्भावनेन स्वयमधमो जन्मतपोविद्याचारवर्णाश्रमवतो वरीयसो न बहु मन्येत स मृतक एव मृत्वा क्षारकर्दमे निरयेऽवाक्‌शिरा निपातितो दुरन्ता यातना ह्यश्नुते ॥ ३० ॥

atha ca yas tv iha vā ātma-sambhāvanena svayam adhamo janma-tapo-vidyācāra-varṇāśramavato varīyaso na bahu manyeta sa mṛtaka eva mṛtvā kṣārakardame niraye ’vāk-śirā nipātito durantā yātanā hy aśnute.

Translation

A lowborn and abominable person who in this life becomes falsely proud, thinking “I am great,” and who thus fails to show proper respect to one more elevated than he by birth, austerity, education, behavior, caste or spiritual order, is like a dead man even in this lifetime, and after death he is thrown headfirst into the hell known as Kṣārakardama. There he must suffer great tribulation at the hands of the agents of Yamarāja.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Give Respect Instead of Claiming Greatness

  1. 1

    One should not become falsely proud, thinking, “I am great.” Such pride can prevent one from giving proper respect.

  2. 2

    The text calls for respect toward those more elevated by birth, austerity, education, behavior, caste or spiritual order. The purport emphasizes honoring such persons rather than indulging in false pride.

  3. 3

    The verse compares a person absorbed in this disrespect to a dead man even during life. It describes further suffering in Kṣārakardama after death.

Key points from the purport
  • One must be respectful toward a person more elevated than he by birth, education, behavior, caste or spiritual order.
  • If one does not show respect to such highly elevated persons but indulges in false pride, he receives punishment in Kṣārakardama.

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

Moral dread → Wakefulness. Consequences of action are rendered emotionally vivid.

Chapter 26 of Canto 5: The hellish planets. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 26: A Description of the Hellish Planets

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

One who violates etiquette by not showing proper respect to superiors is put into the hell known as Kṣārakardama. A person who sacrifices human beings to Bhairava is put into the hell called Rakṣogaṇa-bhojana.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.26
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. athafurthermore
  2. caalso
  3. yaḥanyone who
  4. tubut
  5. ihain this life
  6. vāor
  7. ātma-sambhāvanenaby false prestige
  8. svayamhimself
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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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 5.26

    In this verse: “proud”, “pride”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 5.26

    In this verse: “death”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 5.26

    In this verse: “suffering”

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

Whose learning, conduct or spiritual standing have I failed to respect because of pride?

Practice

Express sincere respect today to one person whose learning, conduct or spiritual discipline exceeds your own.

Live this todayGive Respect Instead of Claiming GreatnessThis 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 5.26.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.