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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 5.8.15

Who is speaking and story frame

अन्यदा भृशमुद्विग्नमना नष्टद्रविण इव कृपण: सकरुणमतितर्षेण हरिणकुणक विरहविह्वलहृदयसन्तापस्तमेवानुशोचन् किल कश्मलं महदभिरम्भित इति होवाच ॥ १५ ॥

anyadā bhṛśam udvigna-manā naṣṭa-draviṇa iva kṛpaṇaḥ sakaruṇam ati-tarṣeṇa hariṇa-kuṇaka-viraha-vihvala-hṛdaya-santāpas tam evānuśocan kila kaśmalaṁ mahad abhirambhita iti hovāca.

Translation

If Bharata Mahārāja sometimes could not see the deer, his mind would be very agitated. He would become like a miser, who, having obtained some riches, had lost them and had then become very unhappy. When the deer was gone, he would be filled with anxiety and would lament due to separation. Thus he would become illusioned and speak as follows.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Transfer Attachment to the Lord's Service

  1. 1

    When Bharata Mahārāja could not see the deer, he became agitated like someone who had lost money or gold.

  2. 2

    Attachment can be transferred. If it is transferred to the Lord's service, we make spiritual progress.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī prayed for natural attraction to the Lord's service. Attachment diverted toward material things instead causes a fall from the spiritual platform.

Key points from the purport
  • If a poor man loses some money or gold, he at once becomes very agitated.
  • Similarly, the mind of Mahārāja Bharata would become agitated when he did not see the deer.
  • If our attachment is transferred to the Lord’s service, we progress.

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

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 8: A Description of the Character of Bharata Mahārāja

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Gradually he became so absorbed in thinking of this deer that his mind became agitated. As he became more attached to the deer, his devotional service slackened.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 5.8
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. anyadāsometimes (not seeing the calf)
  2. bhṛśamvery much
  3. udvigna-manāḥhis mind full of anxiety
  4. naṣṭa-draviṇaḥwho has lost his riches
  5. ivalike
  6. kṛpaṇaḥa miserly man
  7. sa-karuṇampiteously
  8. ati-tarṣeṇawith great anxiety
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 5.8

    In this verse: “illusioned”, “attachment”, “material”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 5.8

    In this verse: “separation”, “lament”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where could you redirect some of your strong affection toward the Lord's service?

Practice

Use a few minutes today for the Lord's service that you would otherwise spend dwelling on a material attachment.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTransfer Attachment to the Lord's ServiceThis 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 5.8.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.