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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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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
5.6.75.6.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.6.8

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

अथ समीरवेगविधूतवेणुविकर्षणजातोग्रदावानलस्तद्वनमालेलिहान: सह तेन ददाह ॥ ८ ॥

atha samīra-vega-vidhūta-veṇu-vikarṣaṇa-jātogra-dāvānalas tad vanam ālelihānaḥ saha tena dadāha.

Translation

While He was wandering about, a wild forest fire began. This fire was caused by the friction of bamboos, which were being blown by the wind. In that fire, the entire forest near Kuṭakācala and the body of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva were burnt to ashes.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Fire Cannot Burn the Soul

  1. 1

    Wind-driven bamboos rubbed together and started a fierce forest fire near Kuṭakācala. The translation describes the forest and Lord Ṛṣabhadeva’s body as burning to ashes.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that Lord Ṛṣabhadeva only appeared to be burned. He is the Supersoul of all living entities, and the soul cannot be burned by fire.

  3. 3

    Because Lord Ṛṣabhadeva was present, all the animals in the forest were liberated from material confinement.

Key points from the purport
  • Such a forest fire can burn the external bodies of animals, but Lord Ṛṣabhadeva was not burned, although He apparently seemed so.
  • Lord Ṛṣabhadeva is the Supersoul of all living entities within the forest, and His soul is never burned by fire.
  • Due to Lord Ṛṣabhadeva’s presence, all the animals in the forest were also liberated from material encagement.

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· 1

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.26.40

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.6.8), dāvānalas tad vanam ālelihānaḥ saha tena dadāha: at the conclusion of Ṛṣabhadeva’s pastimes, an entire forest and the Lord’s body were burned to ashes in a great forest fire.

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:

Suddenly there was a forest fire that burned the forest and Lord Ṛṣabhadeva’s body to ashes. The pastimes of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva as a liberated soul were known by the King of Koṅka, Veṅka and Kuṭaka.
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. athathereafter
  2. samīra-vegaby the force of the wind
  3. vidhūtatossed about
  4. veṇuof bamboos
  5. vikarṣaṇaby the rubbing
  6. jātaproduced
  7. ugrafierce
  8. dāva-analaḥa forest fire
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the soul’s freedom from burning change my understanding of this event?

Practice

Read the purport once today, pausing to reflect on the Lord’s presence liberating the forest animals.

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.

Live this todayFire Cannot Burn the SoulThis 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 5.6.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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