1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 5 · The Creative Impetus · 26 chapters

1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
5.6.175.6.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.6.18

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.6.18inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

राजन् पतिर्गुरुरलं भवतां यदूनां

दैवं प्रिय: कुलपति: क्‍व च किङ्करो व: ।

अस्त्वेवमङ्ग भगवान् भजतां मुकुन्दो

मुक्तिं ददाति कर्हिचित्स्म न भक्तियोगम् ॥ १८ ॥

rājan patir gurur alaṁ bhavatāṁ yadūnāṁ

daivaṁ priyaḥ kula-patiḥ kva ca kiṅkaro vaḥ

astv evam aṅga bhagavān bhajatāṁ mukundo

muktiṁ dadāti karhicit sma na bhakti-yogam

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: My dear King, the Supreme Person, Mukunda, is actually the maintainer of all the members of the Pāṇḍava and Yadu dynasties. He is your spiritual master, worshipable Deity, friend, and the director of your activities. To say nothing of this, He sometimes serves your family as a messenger or servant. This means He worked just as ordinary servants do. Those engaged in getting the Lord’s favor attain liberation from the Lord very easily, but He does not very easily give the opportunity to render direct service unto Him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Surpasses Liberation

  1. 1

    The Pāṇḍavas’ unalloyed devotional service made their dynasty glorious. Lord Kṛṣṇa became their maintainer, spiritual master and even messenger.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is always inclined toward His pure devotees. Although Kṛṣṇa appeared in the Yadu dynasty, He showed special affection for the Pāṇḍavas.

  3. 3

    Bhakti-yoga is the basis of the supreme relationship with the Lord and is far superior to liberation. Kṛṣṇa gives liberation easily, but does not so easily grant direct devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Parīkṣit might have been thinking that the Kuru dynasty was not as fortunate as the others because the Supreme Lord did not appear in that family, neither as Kṛṣṇa, Lord Rāmacandra, Lord Ṛṣabhadeva or Mahārāja Pṛthu.
  • Although Lord Kṛṣṇa did not appear in the Kuru dynasty, He was so obligated to the Pāṇḍavas’ devotional service that He acted as a maintainer of the family and spiritual master of the Pāṇḍavas.
  • By His actions, Lord Kṛṣṇa proved that He was more inclined to the Kuru dynasty than the Yadu dynasty.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

Quoted in the purport ofCC Ādi 8.19

This passage is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.6.18).

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 24.172

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.6.18), muktiṁ dadāti karhicit.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

The Supreme Lord gives these devotees whatever they desire, but they cannot attain the most important function of devotional service. Devotional service to the Lord is guaranteed for those who do not desire liberation and 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. rājanO my dear King
  2. patiḥmaintainer
  3. guruḥspiritual master
  4. alamcertainly
  5. bhavatāmof you
  6. yadūnāmthe Yadu dynasty
  7. daivamthe worshipable Deity
  8. priyaḥvery dear friend
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshipable”, “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 5.6

    In this verse: “king”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 5.6

    In this verse: “friend”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the rarity of direct devotional service change the way I value opportunities to serve?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Lord Kṛṣṇa expressing gratitude for the opportunity to learn about devotional service.

5

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.

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

7

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 todayDevotional Service Surpasses LiberationThis 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 5.6.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories