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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 5.26.36

Who is speaking and story frame

यस्त्विह वा आढ्याभिमतिरहङ्कृतिस्तिर्यक्प्रेक्षण: सर्वतोऽभिविशङ्की अर्थव्ययनाशचिन्तया परिशुष्यमाणहृदयवदनो निर्वृतिमनवगतो ग्रह इवार्थमभिरक्षति स चापि प्रेत्य तदुत्पादनोत्कर्षणसंरक्षणशमलग्रह: सूचीमुखे नरके निपतति यत्र ह वित्तग्रहं पापपुरुषं धर्मराजपुरुषा वायका इव सर्वतोऽङ्गेषु सूत्रै: परिवयन्ति ॥ ३६ ॥

yas tv iha vā āḍhyābhimatir ahaṅkṛtis tiryak-prekṣaṇaḥ sarvato ’bhiviśaṅkī artha-vyaya-nāśa-cintayā pariśuṣyamāṇa-hṛdaya-vadano nirvṛtim anavagato graha ivārtham abhirakṣati sa cāpi pretya tad-utpādanotkarṣaṇa-saṁrakṣaṇa-śamala-grahaḥ sūcīmukhe narake nipatati yatra ha vitta-grahaṁ pāpa-puruṣaṁ dharmarāja-puruṣā vāyakā iva sarvato ’ṅgeṣu sūtraiḥ parivayanti.

Translation

One who in this world or this life is very proud of his wealth always thinks, “I am so rich. Who can equal me?” His vision is twisted, and he is always afraid that someone will take his wealth. Indeed, he even suspects his superiors. His face and heart dry up at the thought of losing his wealth, and therefore he always looks like a wretched fiend. He is not in any way able to obtain actual happiness, and he does not know what it is to be free from anxiety. Because of the sinful things he does to earn money, augment his wealth and protect it, he is put into the hell called Sūcīmukha, where the officials of Yamarāja punish him by stitching thread through his entire body like weavers manufacturing cloth.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Wealth in Kṛṣṇa’s Service

  1. 1

    Possessing more wealth than necessary can make one proud and fearful of loss. Such attachment leaves one without actual happiness or freedom from anxiety.

  2. 2

    Money is also called lakṣmī, and Lakṣmī is always engaged in the service of Nārāyaṇa. Money should likewise be used in the Lord’s transcendental loving service.

  3. 3

    Nothing belongs to anyone but Kṛṣṇa, the true enjoyer and owner of all planets. Wealth beyond one’s needs should be spent for Kṛṣṇa and for spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness, rather than accumulated in pride.

Key points from the purport
  • A śūdra does not know how to use money to render transcendental loving service to the Lord.
  • If one does not spend money for this purpose but accumulates more than necessary, he will certainly become proud of the money he illegally possesses.
  • One who possesses more money than he needs should spend it for Kṛṣṇa.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 5.26.36 quotesBG 5.29

The money actually belongs to Kṛṣṇa, who says in Bhagavad-gītā (5.29), bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśvaram: “I am the true enjoyer of sacrifices and penances, and I am the owner of all the planets.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. yaḥany person who
  2. tubut
  3. ihain this world
  4. vāor
  5. āḍhya-abhimatiḥproud because of wealth
  6. ahaṅkṛtiḥegotistic
  7. tiryak-prekṣaṇaḥwhose vision is crooked
  8. sarvataḥ abhiviśaṅkīalways fearful of being cheated by others, even by superiors
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.26

    In this verse: “wealth”, “attachment”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “afraid”, “fearful”

  • Dainya · Humility

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

    In this verse: “proud”, “pride”

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

How could I use what I have beyond my needs in Kṛṣṇa’s service?

Practice

Set aside a small amount of money today to help spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Live this todayUse Wealth in Kṛṣṇa’s ServiceThis 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 5.26.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.