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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
5.6.145.6.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.6.15

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

को न्वस्य काष्ठामपरोऽनुगच्छे-

न्मनोरथेनाप्यभवस्य योगी ।

यो योगमाया: स्पृहयत्युदस्ता

ह्यसत्तया येन कृतप्रयत्ना: ॥ १५ ॥

ko nv asya kāṣṭhām aparo ’nugacchen

mano-rathenāpy abhavasya yogī

yo yoga-māyāḥ spṛhayaty udastā

hy asattayā yena kṛta-prayatnāḥ

Translation

“Who is that mystic yogī who can follow the examples of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva even with his mind? Lord Ṛṣabhadeva rejected all kinds of yogic perfection, which other yogīs hanker to attain. Who is that yogī who can compare to Lord Ṛṣabhadeva?”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek the Lord’s Shelter, Not Mystic Powers

  1. 1

    Ordinary yogīs desire mystic perfections, but Lord Ṛṣabhadeva never aspired for these material things.

  2. 2

    Such perfections are presented by the Lord’s illusory energy. Attraction to them can cover the real purpose of yoga.

  3. 3

    The true purpose of yoga is to attain the favor and shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s lotus feet. Ordinary yogīs cannot compare to Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Generally yogīs desire the yogic perfections of aṇimā, laghimā, mahimā, prākāmya, prāpti, īśitva, vaśitva and kāmāvasāyitā.
  • So-called yogīs are therefore allured by the superficial material perfections of aṇimā, laghimā, prāpti and so forth.
  • Consequently ordinary yogīs cannot compare to Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 neglected all the mystic powers for which the so-called yogīs hanker. Because of the beauty of devotional service, devotees are not at all interested in so-called mystic power.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kaḥwho
  2. nuindeed
  3. asyaof Lord Ṛṣabhadeva
  4. kāṣṭhāmthe example
  5. aparaḥelse
  6. anugacchetcan follow
  7. manaḥ-rathenaby the mind
  8. apieven
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.6

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 5.6

    In this verse: “favor”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 5.6

    In this verse: “shelter”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking the Lord’s shelter, or am I attracted to extraordinary abilities and achievements?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer asking for the Lord’s shelter rather than extraordinary powers.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek the Lord’s Shelter, Not Mystic PowersThis 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 5.6.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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