1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 5 · The Creative Impetus · 26 chapters

1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
5.3.195.4.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.3.20

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.3.19inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

बर्हिषि तस्मिन्नेव विष्णुदत्त भगवान् परमर्षिभि: प्रसादितो नाभे: प्रियचिकीर्षया तदवरोधायने मेरुदेव्यां धर्मान्दर्शयितुकामो वातरशनानां श्रमणानामृषीणामूर्ध्वमन्थिनां शुक्लया तनुवावततार ॥ २० ॥

barhiṣi tasminn eva viṣṇudatta bhagavān paramarṣibhiḥ prasādito nābheḥ priya-cikīrṣayā tad-avarodhāyane merudevyāṁ dharmān darśayitu-kāmo vāta-raśanānāṁ śramaṇānām ṛṣīṇām ūrdhva-manthināṁ śuklayā tanuvāvatatāra.

Translation

O Viṣṇudatta, Parīkṣit Mahārāja, the Supreme Personality of Godhead was pleased by the great sages at that sacrifice. Consequently the Lord decided to personally exhibit the method of executing religious principles [as observed by brahmacārīs, sannyāsīs, vānaprasthas and gṛhasthas engaged in rituals] and also satisfy Mahārāja Nābhi’s desire. Consequently He appeared as the son of Merudevī in His original spiritual form, which is above the modes of material nature.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Appears to Teach Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Pleased by the great sages, the Supreme Lord appeared as Merudevī’s son to satisfy Mahārāja Nābhi and teach religious principles. Unlike ordinary living entities, He is not forced to appear by the modes of material nature.

  2. 2

    The Lord appears in His original spiritual form, consisting of śuddha-sattva, or uncontaminated goodness. Unlike material goodness, this is never mixed with rajo-guṇa or tamo-guṇa.

  3. 3

    Dharma is given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not manufactured by human beings. Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, teaches surrender to Him; genuine religious principles lead to bhakti-mārga, the path of devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • When the Supreme Lord appears or descends as an incarnation within this material world, He does not accept a body made of the three modes of material nature (sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa).
  • Unlike ordinary living entities, the Supreme Lord is not forced by the modes of material nature to appear.
  • The Supreme Lord sends an avatāra (incarnation) to teach human society the proper way to execute religious principles.

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 5.3.20 quotesSB 4.3.23

Sattvaṁ viśuddhaṁ vasudeva-śabditam. That is the platform of vasudeva, whereby the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, can be experienced.

The purport of SB 5.3.20 quotesBG 4.7

In Bhagavad-gītā (4.7) Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself says: “Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion — at that time I descend Myself.”

The purport of SB 5.3.20 quotesSB 6.3.19

Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam. Dharma is given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, just as the law is given by the state government.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. barhiṣiin the arena of sacrifice
  2. tasminthat
  3. evain this way
  4. viṣṇu-dattaO Mahārāja Parīkṣit
  5. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. parama-ṛṣibhiḥby the great ṛṣis
  7. prasāditaḥbeing pleased
  8. nābheḥ priya-cikīrṣayāto please King Nābhi
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”, “dharma”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “bhakti-mārga”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 looking to the Supreme Lord’s guidance for religious principles, or relying on my own ideas?

Practice

Today, pause before one activity and offer a brief prayer to Kṛṣṇa asking for guidance to act in His devotional service.

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 4.3.23SB 6.3.19

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

Live this todayThe Lord Appears to Teach Devotional 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 5.3.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories