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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
5.3.4-55.3.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.3.6

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The priestssince 5.3.4-5inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

परिजनानुरागविरचितशबलसंशब्दसलिलसितकिसलयतुलसिकादूर्वाङ्कुरैरपि सम्भृतया सपर्यया किल परम परितुष्यसि ॥ ६ ॥

parijanānurāga-viracita-śabala-saṁśabda-salila-sita-kisalaya-tulasikā-dūrvāṅkurair api sambhṛtayā saparyayā kila parama parituṣyasi.

Translation

O Supreme Lord, You are full in every respect. You are certainly very satisfied when Your devotees offer You prayers with faltering voices and in ecstasy bring You tulasī leaves, water, twigs bearing new leaves, and newly grown grass. This surely makes You satisfied.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Simple Offerings With Love Please the Lord

  1. 1

    Great wealth, education or opulence is not needed to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A flower and a little water offered with love can please Him.

  2. 2

    The Lord is surely satisfied by devotion, not by the material value of an offering. He accepts a leaf, flower, fruit or water offered with love and devotion.

  3. 3

    Śrī Kṛṣṇa is very affectionate toward His devotees. Through His causeless mercy, even the poorest person can offer something simple and please Him.

Key points from the purport
  • If one is fully absorbed in love and ecstasy, he need offer only a flower and a little water.
  • The Supreme Lord can be pleased only by devotional service; therefore it is said here that the Lord is surely satisfied by devotion and nothing else.
  • The Supreme Lord is causelessly merciful upon His devotee, so much so that even the poorest of men can offer Him a little water and a flower in devotion and thus please Him.

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 5.3.6 quotesBG 9.26

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati: “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.”

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. parijanaby Your servants
  2. anurāgain great ecstasy
  3. viracitaexecuted
  4. śabalawith a faltering voice
  5. saṁśabdawith prayers
  6. salilawater
  7. sita-kisalayatwigs bearing new leaves
  8. tulasikātulasī leaves
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotion”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 5.3

    In this verse: “ecstasy”, “love”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”, “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

Do I ever feel that my simple offering is too small for the Lord?

Practice

Offer the Lord a little clean water today with a sincere prayer of devotion.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySimple Offerings With Love Please the LordThis 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.

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