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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 5: Lord Ṛṣabhadeva’s Teachings to His Sons
5.5.335.5.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.5.34

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.5.28inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एवं गोमृगकाकचर्यया व्रजंस्तिष्ठन्नासीन: शयान: काकमृगगोचरित: पिबति खादत्यवमेहति स्म ॥ ३४ ॥

evaṁ go-mṛga-kāka-caryayā vrajaṁs tiṣṭhann āsīnaḥ śayānaḥ kāka-mṛga-go-caritaḥ pibati khādaty avamehati sma.

Translation

In this way Lord Ṛṣabhadeva followed the behavior of cows, deer and crows. Sometimes He moved or walked, and sometimes He sat down in one place. Sometimes He lay down, behaving exactly like cows, deer and crows. In that way, He ate, drank, passed stool and urine and cheated the people in this way.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Unusual Behavior Conceals the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Lord Ṛṣabhadeva is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His body is transcendental and spiritual.

  2. 2

    The general public could not appreciate His behavior or mystic yoga practice. Instead, they disturbed Him.

  3. 3

    To mislead those people, He behaved like cows, deer and crows. He moved, sat, lay down, ate and drank in their manner.

Key points from the purport
  • Being the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Ṛṣabhadeva possessed a transcendental, spiritual body.
  • Since the general public could not appreciate His behavior and mystic yoga practice, they began to disturb Him.
  • To cheat them, He behaved like crows, cows and deer.

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 5: Lord Ṛṣabhadeva’s Teachings to His Sons

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Serving a Vaiṣṇava means serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes the characteristics of Bharata Mahārāja and the sacrificial performance executed by Lord Ṛṣabhadeva for the instruction of the general populace.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.5
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. goof cows
  3. mṛgadeer
  4. kākacrows
  5. caryayāby the activities
  6. vrajanmoving
  7. tiṣṭhanstanding
  8. āsīnaḥsitting
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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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does knowing Ṛṣabhadeva’s spiritual identity change my understanding of His unusual behavior?

Practice

Before rereading His actions, recall the purport’s statement that Lord Ṛṣabhadeva is the Supreme Personality of Godhead with a spiritual body.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayUnusual Behavior Conceals 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 5.5.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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