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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.
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Canto 5 · Chapter 7: The Activities of King Bharata
5.7.105.7.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.7.11

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 5.7.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit
A turning point forBharata / Jaḍa Bharata· Renunciation and worship

तस्मिन् वाव किल स एकल: पुलहाश्रमोपवने विविधकुसुमकिसलयतुलसिकाम्बुभि: कन्दमूलफलोपहारैश्च समीहमानो भगवत आराधनं विविक्त उपरतविषयाभिलाष उपभृतोपशम: परां निर्वृतिमवाप ॥ ११ ॥

tasmin vāva kila sa ekalaḥ pulahāśramopavane vividha-kusuma-kisalaya-tulasikāmbubhiḥ kanda-mūla-phalopahāraiś ca samīhamāno bhagavata ārādhanaṁ vivikta uparata-viṣayābhilāṣa upabhṛtopaśamaḥ parāṁ nirvṛtim avāpa.

Translation

In the gardens of Pulaha-āśrama, Mahārāja Bharata lived alone and collected a variety of flowers, twigs and tulasī leaves. He also collected the water of the Gaṇḍakī River, as well as various roots, fruits and bulbs. With these he offered food to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva, and, worshiping Him, he remained satisfied. In this way his heart was completely uncontaminated, and he did not have the least desire for material enjoyment. All material desires vanished. In this steady position, he felt full satisfaction and was situated in devotional service.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Service Brings Full Satisfaction

  1. 1

    Peace of mind comes when one is freed from the desire for material sense gratification and engaged in devotional service to the Lord.

  2. 2

    Worship need not be expensive. The Supreme Lord accepts a leaf, a flower, a little fruit or water when offered with love and devotion.

  3. 3

    Unmotivated, uninterrupted devotional service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, completely satisfies the self. Wherever we are, we can serve Him and become freed from material desires.

Key points from the purport
  • This is obtainable only when one is completely freed from the desire for material sense gratification and is engaged in the devotional service of the Lord.
  • As soon as one engages in the devotional service of the Lord, his mind is purified of all material desires.
  • One may not be able to go to Pulaha-āśrama, but wherever one is one can happily render devotional service to the Lord by adopting the processes mentioned above.

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

The purport of SB 5.7.11 quotesSB 1.2.6

By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world.”

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

Compassion and attachment → Regret and vigilance. Affection becomes binding when it displaces devotion.

Chapters 7–9 of Canto 5: Bharata, the deer and the birth of Jaḍa Bharata. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 7: The Activities of King Bharata

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Due to his highly advanced spiritual position, there were sometimes visible in his body the aṣṭa-sāttvika transformations, such as ecstatic crying and bodily trembling, which are symptoms of love of Godhead. It is understood that Mahārāja Bharata worshiped the Supreme Lord with the mantras mentioned in the Ṛg Veda, generally known as Gāyatrī mantra, which aim at the Supreme Nārāyaṇa situated within the sun.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasminin that āśrama
  2. vāva kilaindeed
  3. saḥBharata Mahārāja
  4. ekalaḥalone, only
  5. pulaha-āśrama-upavanein the gardens situated in Pulaha-āśrama
  6. vividha-kusuma-kisalaya-tulasikā-ambubhiḥwith varieties of flowers, twigs and tulasī leaves, as well as with water
  7. kanda-mūla-phala-upahāraiḥby offerings of roots, bulbs and fruits
  8. caand
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 5.7

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “worshiping”, “worship”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.7

    In this verse: “material”, “sense gratification”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 5.7

    In this verse: “love”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I give more attention to loving service rather than material enjoyment?

Practice

Offer a little fruit or some water to Kṛṣṇa today with love and devotion.

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.

The purport quotesSB 1.2.6

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 5.7's connections

Live this todayLoving Service Brings Full SatisfactionThis 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 5.7.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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