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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 4: The Characteristics of Ṛṣabhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
5.4.55.4.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.4.6

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

यस्य ह पाण्डवेय श्लोकावुदाहरन्ति—

को नु तत्कर्म राजर्षेर्नाभेरन्वाचरेत्पुमान् ।

अपत्यतामगाद्यस्य हरि: शुद्धेन कर्मणा ॥ ६ ॥

yasya ha pāṇḍaveya ślokāv udāharanti —

ko nu tat karma rājarṣer

nābher anv ācaret pumān

apatyatām agād yasya

hariḥ śuddhena karmaṇā

Translation

O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, to glorify Mahārāja Nābhi the old sages composed two verses. One of them is this: “Who can attain the perfection of Mahārāja Nābhi? Who can attain his activities? Because of his devotional service, the Supreme Personality of Godhead agreed to become his son.”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Work Satisfies the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Activities performed only for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord are pure. They are not contaminated by the modes of material nature.

  2. 2

    Work outside devotional service remains affected by ignorance, passion or goodness. Material activities meant for sense satisfaction are therefore contaminated.

  3. 3

    Mahārāja Nābhi performed only transcendental activities, including his yajña. Because of his devotional service, the Supreme Personality of Godhead agreed to become his son.

Key points from the purport
  • If work is not carried out in devotional service, it is contaminated by the modes of material nature.
  • Activities performed only for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord are pure and are not contaminated by the modes of material nature.
  • All material activities meant for satisfying the senses are contaminated, and Mahārāja Nābhi did not perform anything contaminated.

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

Further reading

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

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Upon receiving Ṛṣabhadeva, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as his son, King Nābhi began to raise Him very carefully. After that, he entrusted the ruling power to Him and, retiring from family life, lived at Badarikāśrama completely engaged in the worship of Vāsudeva, the Supreme Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yasyaof whom
  2. haindeed
  3. pāṇḍaveyaO Mahārāja Parīkṣit
  4. ślokautwo verses
  5. udāharantirecite
  6. kaḥwho
  7. nuthen
  8. tatthat
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 5.4

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 5.4

    In this verse: “glorify”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.4

    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 working mainly for my own sense satisfaction or to satisfy the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and consciously make the Lord’s satisfaction your purpose.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Work Satisfies the Supreme 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 5.4.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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