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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 5.26.39

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रुत्वा स्थूलं तथा सूक्ष्मं रूपं भगवतो यति: ।

स्थूले निर्जितमात्मानं शनै: सूक्ष्मं धिया नयेदिति ॥ ३९ ॥

śrutvā sthūlaṁ tathā sūkṣmaṁ

rūpaṁ bhagavato yatiḥ

sthūle nirjitam ātmānaṁ

śanaiḥ sūkṣmaṁ dhiyā nayed iti

Translation

One who is interested in liberation, who accepts the path of liberation and is not attracted to the path of conditional life, is called yati, or a devotee. Such a person should first control his mind by thinking of the virāṭ-rūpa, the gigantic universal form of the Lord, and then gradually think of the spiritual form of Kṛṣṇa [sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha] after hearing of both forms. Thus one’s mind is fixed in samādhi. By devotional service one can then realize the spiritual form of the Lord, which is the destination of devotees. Thus his life becomes successful.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear With Devotees and Realize Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    One seeking liberation should hear about the Lord’s universal and spiritual forms. By first fixing the mind on the virāṭ-rūpa and gradually thinking of Kṛṣṇa’s spiritual form, the mind becomes fixed in samādhi.

  2. 2

    Association with liberated devotees provides opportunities to hear, describe and chant about the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s name, form, qualities and paraphernalia.

  3. 3

    The purport encourages joining the International Society for Krishna Consciousness to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from devotees and explain it to others. Through devotional service, one realizes the Lord’s spiritual form, and life becomes successful.

Key points from the purport
  • It is said, mahat-sevāṁ dvāram āhur vimukteḥ: if one wants to progress on the path of liberation, he should associate with mahātmās, or liberated devotees, because in such association there is a full chance for hearing, describing and chanting about the name, form, qualities and paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, all of which are described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
  • On the path of bondage, one eternally undergoes the repetition of birth and death.
  • One who desires liberation from such bondage should join the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and thus take advantage of the opportunity to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from devotees and also explain it to propagate Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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:

After describing the hellish planets, Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes how pious persons are elevated to the highest planetary system, where the demigods live, and how they then come back again to this earth when the results of their pious activities are finished. Finally he describes the universal form of the Lord and glorifies the Lord’s activities.
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. śrutvāafter hearing of (from the disciplic succession)
  2. sthūlamgross
  3. tathāas well as
  4. sūkṣmamsubtle
  5. rūpamform
  6. bhagavataḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  7. yatiḥa sannyāsī or devotee
  8. sthūlethe gross form
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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 5.26

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”, “devotees”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 5.26

    In this verse: “hearing”, “chant”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make more room for hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the company of devotees?

Practice

Spend a few minutes today hearing a devotee explain Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Live this todayHear With Devotees and Realize KṛṣṇaThis 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 5.26.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.