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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 6: The Activities of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva
5.6.135.6.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.6.14

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.6.9inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अहो नु वंशो यशसावदात:

प्रैयव्रतो यत्र पुमान् पुराण: ।

कृतावतार: पुरुष: स आद्य-

श्चचार धर्मं यदकर्महेतुम् ॥ १४ ॥

aho nu vaṁśo yaśasāvadātaḥ

praiyavrato yatra pumān purāṇaḥ

kṛtāvatāraḥ puruṣaḥ sa ādyaś

cacāra dharmaṁ yad akarma-hetum

Translation

“Oh, what shall I say of the dynasty of Priyavrata, which is pure and very much celebrated. In that dynasty, the Supreme Person, the original Personality of Godhead, descended as an incarnation and executed religious principles that could free one from the results of fruitive activity.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Appearance Glorifies a Dynasty

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord descends as an incarnation in different human dynasties, making those dynasties celebrated.

  2. 2

    Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared in the Yadu dynasty, Lord Rāmacandra in the Ikṣvāku, or Raghu, dynasty, and Lord Ṛṣabhadeva in Priyavrata’s dynasty.

  3. 3

    Priyavrata’s dynasty is praised as pure and most famous. There the Supreme Person practiced religious principles that free one from the results of fruitive activity.

Key points from the purport
  • There are many dynasties in human society wherein the Supreme Lord descends as an incarnation.
  • Similarly, Lord Ṛṣabhadeva appeared in the dynasty of King Priyavrata.
  • All these dynasties are very famous, and of them the dynasty of Priyavrata is most famous.

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:

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. On this earth, the place known as Bhārata-varṣa was a very pious land because the Supreme Lord appeared there when He wanted to incarnate.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ahooh
  2. nuindeed
  3. vaṁśaḥthe dynasty
  4. yaśasāwith widespread fame
  5. avadātaḥfully pure
  6. praiyavrataḥrelated to King Priyavrata
  7. yatrawherein
  8. pumānthe Supreme Person
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does this praise teach me about the source of a family’s true glory?

Practice

Read the translation aloud once, paying attention to the freedom offered by the Lord’s religious principles.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 5.6's connections

Live this todayThe Lord’s Appearance Glorifies a DynastyThis 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 5.6.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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