1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819

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 1 · Chapter 12: Birth of Emperor Parīkṣit
1.12.171.12.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.12.18

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The brāhmaṇassince 1.12.16inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

श्रीराजोवाच

अप्येष वंश्यान् राजर्षीन् पुण्यश्लोकान् महात्मन: ।

अनुवर्तिता स्विद्यशसा साधुवादेन सत्तमा: ॥ १८ ॥

śrī-rājovāca

apy eṣa vaṁśyān rājarṣīn

puṇya-ślokān mahātmanaḥ

anuvartitā svid yaśasā

sādhu-vādena sattamāḥ

Translation

The good King [Yudhiṣṭhira] inquired: O great souls, will he become as saintly a king, as pious in his very name and as famous and glorified in his achievements, as others who appeared in this great royal family?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Saintly Leaders Nurture Spiritual Life

  1. 1

    Yudhiṣṭhira’s forefathers were saints on the royal throne. Under their rule, the citizens were happy, pious, prosperous and spiritually enlightened.

  2. 2

    These kings were trained under the strict guidance of great souls and spiritual injunctions. Good administration requires spiritual training, not selfish ambition.

  3. 3

    Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was happy that the child would be a first-grade devotee of the Lord. He also wanted his successor to follow his saintly forefathers and protect innocent citizens.

Key points from the purport
  • The forefathers of King Yudhiṣṭhira were all great saintly kings, pious and glorified by their great achievements.
  • And therefore all the members of the state were happy, pious, well-behaved, prosperous and spiritually enlightened.
  • Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira was himself a replica of his ancestors, and he desired that the next king after him become exactly like his great forefathers.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-rājāthe all-good king (Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira)
  2. uvācasaid
  3. apiwhether
  4. eṣaḥthis
  5. vaṁśyānfamily
  6. rāja-ṛṣīnof saintly kings
  7. puṇya-ślokānpious by the very name
  8. mahā-ātmanaḥall great souls
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 1.12

    In this verse: “king”, “kings”, “citizens”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.12

    In this verse: “glorified”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.12

    In this verse: “inquired”

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 make the well-being and spiritual growth of others more important than my own advantage?

Practice

Read one study point again and choose one quality of saintly leadership to practice in a responsibility today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySaintly Leaders Nurture Spiritual LifeThis 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 1.12.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories