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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 4: The Characteristics of Ṛṣabhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

5.3.20 5.4.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.4.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.4.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

अथ ह तमुत्पत्त्यैवाभिव्यज्यमानभगवल्लक्षणं साम्योपशमवैराग्यैश्वर्यमहाविभूतिभिरनुदिनमेधमानानुभावं प्रकृतय: प्रजा ब्राह्मणा देवताश्चावनितलसमवनायातितरां जगृधु: ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

atha ha tam utpattyaivābhivyajyamāna-bhagaval-lakṣaṇaṁ sāmyopaśama-vairāgyaiśvarya-mahā-vibhūtibhir anudinam edhamānānubhāvaṁ prakṛtayaḥ prajā brāhmaṇā devatāś cāvani-tala-samavanāyātitarāṁ jagṛdhuḥ.

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: As soon as the Lord was born as the son of Mahārāja Nābhi, He manifested symptoms of the Supreme Lord, such as marks on the bottoms of His feet [the flag, thunderbolt, etc.]. This son was equal to everyone and very peaceful. He could control His senses and His mind, and, possessing all opulence, He did not hanker for material enjoyment. Endowed with all these attributes, the son of Mahārāja Nābhi became more powerful day after day. Due to this, the citizens, learned brāhmaṇas, demigods and ministers wanted Ṛṣabhadeva to be appointed ruler of the earth.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recognizing the Lord by Genuine Symptoms

1
From birth, Ṛṣabhadeva’s feet bore transcendental signs, including a flag, thunderbolt and lotus flower. An incarnation must be recognized by experienced people and the symptoms described in the śāstras, not merely by praise.
2
An incarnation of God possesses six opulences: wealth, strength, knowledge, beauty, fame and renunciation. Although Ṛṣabhadeva possessed all opulences, He was not attached to material enjoyment.
3
Ṛṣabhadeva was peaceful, self-controlled and equal to everyone, neither favoring one person nor neglecting another. His excellent qualities made everyone want Him to rule the earth.

Key points from the purport

In these days of cheap incarnations, it is very interesting to note the bodily symptoms found in an incarnation.
From the very beginning of His birth, it was observed that Ṛṣabhadeva’s feet were marked with the transcendental signs (a flag, thunderbolt, lotus flower, etc.).
An incarnation of God has to be accepted by experienced people and by the symptoms described in the śāstras.

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

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

Chapter 4: The Characteristics of Ṛṣabhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Due to the superexcellent attributes of the son of Mahārāja Nābhi, the King named his son Ṛṣabha, or “the best.” His influence was incomparable.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 5.4

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
atha hathus (after the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared)
tamHim
utpattyāfrom the beginning of His appearance
evaeven
abhivyajyamānadistinctly manifested
bhagavat-lakṣaṇampossessing the symptoms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
sāmyaequal to everyone

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
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.4
In this verse: “ruler”, “citizens”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.4
In this verse: “material”, “attached”, “wealth”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 5.4
In this verse: “knowledge”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I judge spiritual greatness by popularity or by the qualities described in scripture?

Practice

In one interaction today, consciously avoid favoritism and treat the other person with equal care.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecognizing the Lord by Genuine SymptomsThis 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 5.4.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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