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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 5.3.2

Who is speaking and story frame

तस्य ह वाव श्रद्धया विशुद्धभावेन यजत: प्रवर्ग्येषु प्रचरत्सु द्रव्यदेशकालमन्त्रर्त्विग्दक्षिणाविधानयोगोपपत्त्या दुरधिगमोऽपि भगवान् भागवतवात्सल्यतया सुप्रतीक आत्मानमपराजितं निजजनाभिप्रेतार्थविधित्सया गृहीतहृदयो हृदयङ्गमं मनोनयनानन्दनावयवाभिराममाविश्चकार ॥ २ ॥

tasya ha vāva śraddhayā viśuddha-bhāvena yajataḥ pravargyeṣu pracaratsu dravya-deśa-kāla-mantrartvig-dakṣiṇā-vidhāna-yogopapattyā duradhigamo ’pi bhagavān bhāgavata-vātsalyatayā supratīka ātmānam aparājitaṁ nija-janābhipretārtha-vidhitsayā gṛhīta-hṛdayo hṛdayaṅgamaṁ mano-nayanānandanāvayavābhirāmam āviścakāra.

Translation

In the performance of a sacrifice, there are seven transcendental means to obtain the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead: (1) by sacrificing valuable things or eatables, (2) by acting in terms of place, (3) by acting in terms of time, (4) by offering hymns, (5) by going through the priest, (6) by offering gifts to the priests and (7) by observing the regulative principles. However, one cannot always obtain the Supreme Lord through this paraphernalia. Nonetheless, the Lord is affectionate to His devotee; therefore when Mahārāja Nābhi, who was a devotee, worshiped and offered prayers to the Lord with great faith and devotion and with a pure uncontaminated mind, superficially performing some yajña in the line of pravargya, the kind Supreme Personality of Godhead, due to His affection for His devotees, appeared before King Nābhi in His unconquerable and captivating form with four hands. In this way, to fulfill the desire of His devotee, the Supreme Personality of Godhead manifested Himself in His beautiful body before His devotee. This body pleases the mind and eyes of the devotees.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Brings the Lord’s Merciful Presence

  1. 1

    Sacrificial ingredients, proper place and time, hymns, priests, gifts and regulative principles do not by themselves ensure that one obtains the Supreme Lord.

  2. 2

    The Lord appeared before Mahārāja Nābhi because of his devotional service, not merely because of his sacrifices. Nābhi worshiped with great faith and a pure, uncontaminated mind.

  3. 3

    Only through devotional service can one understand and see the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Affectionate toward His devotees, He revealed His beautiful four-handed form.

Key points from the purport
  • Although Mahārāja Nābhi performed prescribed duties and sacrifices, it should still be considered that the Lord appeared before him not due to his sacrifices but because of his devotional service.
  • As stated in Brahma-saṁhitā (5.30), the Supreme Lord in His original nature is very beautiful.
  • Veṇuṁ kvaṇantam aravinda-dalāyatākṣaṁ barhāvataṁsam asitāmbuda-sundarāṅgam: the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although blackish, is very, very beautiful.

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 5.3.2 quotesBG 18.55

And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God.”

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. tasyawhen he (Nābhi)
  2. ha vāvacertainly
  3. śraddhayāwith great faith and devotion
  4. viśuddha-bhāvenawith a pure, uncontaminated mind
  5. yajataḥwas worshiping
  6. pravargyeṣuwhile the fruitive activities called pravargya
  7. pracaratsuwere being performed
  8. dravyathe ingredients
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotee”, “worshiped”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 5.3

    In this verse: “principles”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.3

    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

Am I giving more attention to outward arrangements or to sincere devotion?

Practice

Before offering a prayer today, pause and focus on serving the Lord with faith rather than merely completing a duty.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Brings the Lord’s Merciful PresenceThis 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 5.3.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.