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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 3: Ṛṣabhadeva’s Appearance in the Womb of Merudevī, the Wife of King Nābhi
5.3.135.3.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.3.14

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The priestssince 5.3.4-5inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

को वा इह तेऽपराजितोऽपराजितया माययानवसितपदव्यानावृतमतिर्विषयविषरयानावृतप्रकृतिरनुपासितमहच्चरण: ॥ १४ ॥

ko vā iha te ’parājito ’parājitayā māyayānavasita-padavyānāvṛta-matir viṣaya-viṣa-rayānāvṛta-prakṛtir anupāsita-mahac-caraṇaḥ.

Translation

Dear Lord, unless one worships the lotus feet of great devotees, one will be conquered by the illusory energy, and his intelligence will be bewildered. Indeed, who has not been carried away by the waves of material enjoyment, which are like poison? Your illusory energy is unconquerable. No one can see the path of this material energy or tell how it is working.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve Devotees to Overcome Māyā

  1. 1

    Material desires, whether great or small, arise through māyā’s influence. Pure devotion is free from desires for sense gratification.

  2. 2

    Freedom from māyā is possible through serving and associating with great devotees. Without their mercy, one cannot obtain the Lord’s loving service.

  3. 3

    A pure devotee has no material desire to enjoy this world and remains free from māyā’s influence. We should take shelter of such a devotee to attain these qualities.

Key points from the purport
  • Without worshiping the lotus feet of a great devotee, one cannot be freed from māyā’s influence.
  • By the slight association of a devotee, one can be freed from the clutches of māyā.
  • The pure devotee is always free from the clutches of māyā and her influence.

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· 3

The purport of SB 5.3.14 quotesBG 7.14

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (7.14): “This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome.”

The purport of SB 5.3.14 quotesCC Madhya 22.54

This is confirmed in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 22.54): ‘sādhu-saṅga’, ‘sādhu-saṅga’ sarva-śāstre kaya

The purport of SB 5.3.14 quotesSB 7.5.32

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.32) Prahlāda Mahārāja says: One cannot become the Lord’s pure devotee without taking the dust of a great devotee on his head (pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekam).

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

Responsibility → Renunciation. Leadership is set beside the renounced ideal.

Chapters 1–6 of Canto 5: Priyavrata and Ṛṣabhadeva. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: Ṛṣabhadeva’s Appearance in the Womb of Merudevī, the Wife of King Nābhi

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Being very kind to His devotees, the Supreme Personality of Godhead was very pleased with the austerities of Mahārāja Nābhi. He personally appeared before the King in His four-handed feature, and the priests who were performing the sacrifices, began to offer their prayers unto Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.3
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kaḥ vāwho is that person
  2. ihawithin this material world
  3. teof Your Lordship
  4. aparājitaḥnot conquered
  5. aparājitayāby the unconquerable
  6. māyayāillusory energy
  7. anavasita-padavyawhose path cannot be ascertained
  8. anāvṛta-matiḥwhose intelligence is not bewildered
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 5.3

    In this verse: “devotees”, “worships”, “devotion”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.3

    In this verse: “material”, “māyā’s”, “sense gratification”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 5.3

    In this verse: “free from”

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 can I seek devotees’ association with a desire to serve rather than gain something material?

Practice

Offer one small, practical act of help to a devotee today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 7.5.32

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 5.3's connections

Live this todayServe Devotees to Overcome MāyāThis 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 5.3.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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