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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
5.6.25.6.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.6.3

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.6.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तथा चोक्तम्—

न कुर्यात्कर्हिचित्सख्यं मनसि ह्यनवस्थिते ।

यद्विश्रम्भाच्चिराच्चीर्णं चस्कन्द तप ऐश्वरम् ॥ ३ ॥

tathā coktam —

na kuryāt karhicit sakhyaṁ

manasi hy anavasthite

yad-viśrambhāc cirāc cīrṇaṁ

caskanda tapa aiśvaram

Translation

All the learned scholars have given their opinion. The mind is by nature very restless, and one should not make friends with it. If we place full confidence in the mind, it may cheat us at any moment. Even Lord Śiva became agitated upon seeing the Mohinī form of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and Saubhari Muni also fell down from the mature stage of yogic perfection.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Never Neglect Mind and Sense Control

  1. 1

    The first business of someone seeking spiritual advancement is to control the mind and senses. The restless mind may cheat even an advanced practitioner.

  2. 2

    Living entities are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord, yet they struggle in this world because of the mind and senses. Austerity and detachment should therefore never be neglected.

  3. 3

    The purport emphasizes strict, offenseless chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra. Such chanting helps protect spiritual progress from sensual allurement.

Key points from the purport
  • Although the living entities are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord and are therefore in a transcendental position, they are still suffering in this material world and struggling for existence due to the mind and the senses.
  • We are therefore sometimes criticized, but nonetheless we are trying to give everyone a chance to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and thus advance spiritually.
  • However, if we are not very strict in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, we may at any time fall victim to women.

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

The purport of SB 5.6.3 quotesBG 15.7

As Śrī Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (15.7): Although the living entities are part and parcel of the Supreme Lord and are therefore in a transcendental position, they are still suffering in this material world and struggling for existence due to the mind and the senses.

The purport of SB 5.6.3 quotesSB 9.19.17

In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (9.19.17) it is specifically stated: A gṛhastha, vānaprastha, sannyāsī and brahmacārī should be very careful when associating with women.

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:

Even the mind of the advanced yogī Saubhari created such a disturbance that he lost his yogic mystic powers. Due to a restless mind, even a very advanced yogī can fall down.
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. tathāso
  2. caand
  3. uktamit is said
  4. nanever
  5. kuryātshould do
  6. karhicitat any time or with anyone
  7. sakhyamfriendship
  8. manasiin the mind
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “friends”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

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

    In this verse: “detachment”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 5.6

    In this verse: “chanting”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where am I placing too much confidence in my ability to resist distraction?

Practice

Put aside one sensual distraction today and spend that time chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

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.

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

7

Connected stories

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

The purport quotesSB 9.19.17

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

Live this todayNever Neglect Mind and Sense ControlThis 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 5.6.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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