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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.6.10

Who is speaking and story frame

येन ह वाव कलौ मनुजापसदा देवमायामोहिता: स्वविधिनियोगशौचचारित्रविहीना देवहेलनान्यपव्रतानि निजनिजेच्छया गृह्णाना अस्‍नानानाचमनाशौचकेशोल्लुञ्चनादीनि कलिनाधर्मबहुलेनोपहतधियो ब्रह्मब्राह्मणयज्ञपुरुषलोकविदूषका: प्रायेण भविष्यन्ति ॥ १० ॥

yena ha vāva kalau manujāpasadā deva-māyā-mohitāḥ sva-vidhi-niyoga-śauca-cāritra-vihīnā deva-helanāny apavratāni nija-nijecchayā gṛhṇānā asnānānācamanāśauca-keśolluñcanādīni kalinādharma-bahulenopahata-dhiyo brahma-brāhmaṇa-yajña-puruṣa-loka-vidūṣakāḥ prāyeṇa bhaviṣyanti.

Translation

People who are lowest among men and bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Lord will give up the original varṇāśrama-dharma and its rules and regulations. They will abandon bathing three times daily and worshiping the Lord. Abandoning cleanliness and neglecting the Supreme Lord, they will accept nonsensical principles. Not regularly bathing or washing their mouths regularly, they will always remain unclean, and they will pluck out their hair. Following a concocted religion, they will flourish. During this Age of Kali, people are more inclined to irreligious systems. Consequently these people will naturally deride Vedic authority, the followers of Vedic authority, the brāhmaṇas, the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the devotees.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Preserve Cleanliness, Worship and Respect

  1. 1

    The translation warns against abandoning cleanliness, prescribed duties and worship of the Supreme Lord. Personal inventions are not a substitute for these practices.

  2. 2

    The purport distinguishes Lord Ṛṣabhadeva’s exalted position from King Arhat’s imitation. His extraordinary conduct did not justify others neglecting Vedic principles.

  3. 3

    The influence of Kali encourages invented religious systems and disrespect for Vedic authority, brāhmaṇas, devotees and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The followers of King Arhat went under the name Jains, and they were later followed by many others, particularly by the hippies, who are more or less offshoots of Māyāvāda philosophy because they think themselves the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Such people do not respect the real followers of Vedic principles, the ideal brāhmaṇas.
  • Nor do they have respect for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supreme Brahman.

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 6: The Activities of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

He later became captivated by the illusory energy, and in this condition he set forth the basic principles of Jainism. Lord Ṛṣabhadeva set forth the principles of religion that can free one from material bondage, and He put an end to all kinds of atheistic activities.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.6
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yenaby which pseudo religious system
  2. ha vāvacertainly
  3. kalauin this Age of Kali
  4. manuja-apasadāḥthe most condemned men
  5. deva-māyā-mohitāḥbewildered by the external energy, or illusory energy, of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. sva-vidhi-niyoga-śauca-cāritra-vihīnāḥwithout character, cleanliness, and the rules and regulations given according to one’s own duty in life
  7. deva-helanāninegligent of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. apavratāniimpious vows
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 5.6

    In this verse: “religion”, “principles”, “varṇāśrama-dharma”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 5.6

    In this verse: “devotees”, “worshiping”, “worship”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 5.6

    In this verse: “give up”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I strengthen cleanliness and respect in my worship of the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Bathe and wash your mouth today before setting aside time to worship the Supreme Lord.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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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 todayPreserve Cleanliness, Worship and RespectThis 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 5.6.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.