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

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 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 1 · Chapter 12: Birth of Emperor Parīkṣit
1.12.161.12.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.12.17

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The brāhmaṇassince 1.12.16inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

तस्मान्नाम्ना विष्णुरात इति लोके भविष्यति ।

न सन्देहो महाभाग महाभागवतो महान् ॥ १७ ॥

tasmān nāmnā viṣṇu-rāta

iti loke bhaviṣyati

na sandeho mahā-bhāga

mahā-bhāgavato mahān

Translation

For this reason this child will be well known in the world as one who is protected by the Personality of Godhead. O most fortunate one, there is no doubt that this child will become a first-class devotee and will be qualified with all good qualities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Devotion Brings the Highest Benefit

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead provides for all living beings, and knowing Him brings eternal peace. He personally protects His unalloyed devotees.

  2. 2

    Devotional growth goes beyond Deity worship without respect for devotees to genuine service and friendship with devotees. The first-class devotee sees everything in its eternal relationship with the Lord.

  3. 3

    Devotees develop all good qualities, and Mahārāja Parīkṣit would be a first-class devotee. Becoming an unalloyed devotee brings the highest benefit to one’s family through the Lord’s grace.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord gives protection to all living beings because He is their supreme leader.
  • And because he is especially given protection by the Lord, the indication must be concluded that the child would be a first-grade devotee of the Lord with all good qualities.
  • A devotee who may be in any of these categories is automatically qualified by all good qualities, and thus a mahā-bhāgavata devotee like Mahārāja Parīkṣit is certainly perfect in all respects.

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

Longing → Joy and continuity. Departure and welcome coexist; Parīkṣit embodies continuity of grace.

Chapters 10–12 of Canto 1: Kṛṣṇa returns to Dvārakā; Parīkṣit is born. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 12: Birth of Emperor Parīkṣit

Parīkṣit’s protection in the womb is recalled, and learned brāhmaṇas predict his qualities at birth.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.12
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasmāttherefore
  2. nāmnāby the name
  3. viṣṇu-rātaḥprotected by Viṣṇu, the Personality of Godhead
  4. itithus
  5. lokein all the planets
  6. bhaviṣyatishall become well known
  7. nano
  8. sandehaḥdoubts
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 1.12

    In this verse: “devotee”, “devotional”, “devotees”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 1.12

    In this verse: “protected”, “protects”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 1.12

    In this verse: “child”

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 deepen genuine service to the Lord and respect for His devotees?

Practice

Offer one small, practical act of help to a devotee today as part of your service to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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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.

Live this todayPure Devotion Brings the Highest BenefitThis 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 1.12.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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